Gas turbine developments |
RWE’s Weisweiler site, possible location for state supported hydrogen-ready gas fired power generation capacity planned by the German government as part of its auction scheme, now scheduled for next year. Photo: RWE
Germany’s plans for new H2 ready gas-fired power plants
The German government plans to hold long anticipated auctions next year for state support to build new H2
ready gas-fired power plants (expected to be predominantly gas turbine based, but also potentially piston engine units) with a combined installed capacity of 8 GW by 2032. Substantial, yes, but a significant reduction compared to earlier plans, which envisaged up to 20 GW by the turn of the decade
Julian Wettengel Clean Energy Wire*
“We want to ensure that Germany’s electricity needs are met even when wind and sun are not available,” says Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The German government intends that its plans for dispatchable capacity will provide sufficient reserve to overcome Dunkelflaute, aka dark doldrums – extended periods with little wind or sunshine.
Germany has worked on plans for state support for new gas power plants for years but negotiations with the European Commission, which needs to approve any state aid scheme, and the collapse of the former government have delayed the process. As Germany phases out coal power plants and increases the share of weather-dependent wind and solar energy, it needs additional capacity that can be switched
on and off when needed. This includes gas power plants, but also other options such as batteries. The government also plans to make better use of flexibilities in the system, for example by introducing incentives to move demand to periods of high renewables feed-in. The current coalition initially agreed to build up to 20 GW of new gas power plants by 2030, but it has looked increasingly unlikely that the European Commission would allow this. The EU has strict conditions for member states aiming to provide state support to industry. The European Commission had already given its approval for the previous government’s plans for 12.5 GW of dispatchable power, but the coalition collapsed before the auctions were able to start and the new scheme required fresh negotiations.
32 | November/December 2025|
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Chancellor Merz said that the Commission had signalled it would give a green light for the plans soon.
The plans include auctions in 2026 for a total of 10 GW of dispatchable capacity to secure electricity supply, built in regions where it is most needed. 8 GW of tenders would be for gas-fired power plants, the remaining 2 GW would be open to other technologies, including battery storage.
Until now, it had remained unclear whether the government would mandate that new gas power plants have to be ready to run on hydrogen, but the new agreement brings clarity. The gas power plants must be “hydrogen ready.” Chancellor Merz confirmed that they “will be put out to tender in such a way that they are
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