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BKW has recently been primarily cultivating its green image. She still has a stake in a coal-fired power plant.
The Wilhelmshaven power plant is located directly on the coast of the North Sea, not far from the East Frisian Islands. The plant generates electricity using hard coal, and therefore emits a particularly large amount of CO₂. BKW has owned a third of the plant since the plant was built in 2008.
BKW: no free decision
However, the system no longer suits the Bern energy company, its boss Robert Itschner told Radio SRF: “We are thinking about when the right time is to get out.”
Legend: When generating electricity from hard coal, the German power plant Wilhelmshaven releases a lot of CO₂. Imago/Olaf Döring
If BKW had its way, it would sell off this investment as quickly as possible: “Strategically speaking, I would rather get out sooner rather than later, but we have to see what is feasible in reality,” says Itschner.
The German government has decided to phase out coal by 2038. But until that happens, German coal-fired power plants will still play a key role in electricity supply: “In critical situations, they still make a contribution to system stability,” explains Itschner. For BKW, this means that it cannot freely decide whether to exit.
70 percent less coal-fired electricity
At the same time, reality shows that coal-fired power plants are needed less and less in everyday life. Because electricity from hard coal is more expensive compared to wind energy. That’s why the plant in Wilhelmshaven produced little electricity last year: 70 percent less than the previous year.
From a purely strategic perspective, I would rather get out sooner rather than later
The same development can be seen throughout Germany. The consumption of hard coal there to generate electricity fell last year to the level of 1955.
200 million francs in reserve
A system that hardly produces any electricity will create a financial hole in BKW’s coffers. Nevertheless, Robert Itschner says: “If this continues, our decision may become much easier.” This means: The plant is ceasing operations because there is simply no longer any demand for hard coal-fired electricity.
Legend: In Switzerland, practically no coal is burned to generate energy. This is why Swiss companies trade in coal – and earn billions. Keystone/Bernd Wüstneck
But to ensure that BKW is not suddenly faced with a nasty financial surprise, it has taken precautions in recent years and has continually reduced the value of its stake in Wilhelmshaven. Today, in an extreme case, it would have to write off a maximum of 300 million francs. At the same time, as a precaution, she has already put aside 200 million to be able to cope with any damage.