Prețurile mari ale gazelor naturale îi împing pe producătorii europeni de energie electrică, mai ales pe cei germani, să se întoarcă la cărbune - Economica.net

The surge in natural gas prices is prompting European utility companies to revert to coal usage, with analysts predicting a 25% increase in coal-based electricity production in the next six months. The conflict between Iran and the U.S. has disrupted liquefied natural gas shipments, pushing European gas prices above 80 euros per megawatt-hour, the highest in three years. This shift makes coal and lignite plants more profitable than gas plants for the first time since 2024. Despite a long-term decline in coal's share of electricity production, high gas prices may make existing coal plants economically attractive again. Germany is seeing a significant increase in coal production, nearing record levels, but the energy system's flexibility is limited due to past coal plant closures. Analysts suggest that coal may remain cheaper than natural gas for electricity production through 2028, indicating a potential long-term shift back to coal.