Berlin – Germany is moving forward with plans to build new gas-fired power plants,a decision greenlit by the European Union,but questions are swirling around whether those plants will truly be future-proofed for hydrogen. The Ministry of Economic Affairs announced the agreement in a press release on January 24, 2026, at 4:48 a.m., outlining a framework to secure Germany’s electricity supply in line with European requirements.
New Power plants Approved, But Hydrogen Compatibility Debated
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The EU’s approval paves the way for a €12 billion investment in new power generation, but a key debate centers on the plants’ ability to transition to hydrogen fuel.
- The EU has approved Germany’s plan to build new gas-fired power plants.
- economics Minister Katherina Reiche announced plans to tender twelve gigawatts of new power capacity.
- A central requirement is that the plants be capable of running on both natural gas and hydrogen.
- CDU leader Friedrich Merz has publicly questioned the hydrogen requirement, contradicting official statements.
Economics Minister Katherina Reiche expressed satisfaction with the agreement, instantly announcing plans to tender twelve gigawatts of “new, additional controllable power.” However, a crucial condition for construction is that the plants be capable of running on both natural gas and hydrogen.
This requirement has drawn criticism from CDU leader Friedrich Merz, who recently voiced skepticism about the feasibility and necessity of hydrogen compatibility. His comments have raised eyebrows, given the government’s commitment to decarbonization and the EU’s stipulations. Merz’s position appears to be a deliberate attempt to distance himself from Minister Habeck’s policies, but experts suggest it coudl be a miscalculation.
Merz’s Attempt to Distance Himself from Habeck: A Potential Misstep
the CDU and CSU,along with the SPD,jointly outlined in a strategy paper published by Climate Reporter,that all gas power plants must be “H2-Ready” and decarbonized by 2045.
Merz also criticized the decision to phase out nuclear energy, calling it a “serious strategic mistake.” He argued that allowing the remaining nuclear power plants to continue operating would have been a more sensible approach,claiming it would have prevented “the most expensive energy transition in the world.”
The Limited Impact of Extending Nuclear Power
Though, the actual impact of extending the lifespan of Germany’s nuclear power plants would have been minimal. Electricity generation would have been limited by the availability of fuel elements, lasting only a few months. Furthermore, the ongoing war in Ukraine raised safety concerns regarding the continued operation of these plants, as explained by Frank Mastiaux, former CEO of EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg AG, in the weekly newspaper The Parliament.
Acquiring new fuel rods would have been a lengthy process. A spokesperson for Eon’s nuclear subsidiary Preussenelektra told the Rhenish Post in July 2022 that fresh fuel elements would likely take around 1.5 years to become available. Logistical dependence on countries like Russia further complicated the process.
Ultimately,no significant energy security issues arose from the decommissioning of the nuclear reactors. Professor Marc Oliver Bettzüge from the University of Cologne stated in a committee of inquiry in november 2024 that security of supply was guaranteed even without nuclear power. Continuing operation would not have significantly reduced prices either. (Sources: Federal Ministry of Economics, Welt, Klimareporter, Das Parliament, rheinische Post)
What is “H2-ready”? This refers to power plants designed to be easily converted to run on hydrogen fuel, a key component of Germany’s decarbonization strategy.
