Read http://www.powerengineeringint.com/articles/2014/10/germany-mulls-cutting-coal-fired-power-capacity.html. Germany in making its decision to cut nuclear power from the mix of energy producers in the country temporarily increased coal-fired power plants. Coal last year made up 45% of the country’s energy capacity. But the country is on track to remove 10 Gigawatts of coal-based electricity production as part of its carbon reduction strategy. The government remains committed to a 40% carbon reduction target by 2030. Much of the capacity replacement will come from solar and wind. And some will come from natural gas. The latter, although producing a lower carbon footprint, does little to achieve Germany’s ultimate goal to be carbon free by 2050.

“Of all countries of the Developed World there is no doubt that Germany is transitioning faster to a low carbon economy than any other”

But actually Germany is one of the few European countries where CO2 emissions have increased in recent years, and it plans to increase the use of coal and gas for electricity generation, with several new plants under construction.