Hans-Peter Villis, EnBW’s CEO as quoted by Handelsblatt, said: There is a big generation gap looming. The industry is too complacent. That will have to change.
The CEO also noted that coal-powered projects were being cancelled as operators fear tougher emissions trading norms would add to running costs, while the cost of constructing new power generation plants grew by 30-40% with the rising demand for capacity.
Reuters reported that EnBW has plans to construct a new coal-fired plant in Karlsruhe and a hydroelectric plant in Rheinfelden. It is also reportedly seeking to keep its Neckarwestheim-2 nuclear reactor functional beyond 2010, as the utility feels nuclear power has an important role to play in Germany’s energy mix.
