Lignite (brown coal)

Lignite (brown coal) which Germany has in large quantities, is the dirtiest kind of coal.

See also: hard coal, Coal in Germany

Germany’s brown coal resources are mainly concentrated in the former East Germany (which is relatively underdeveloped compared to the rest of the country).Lignite has a relatively high water content and hence relatively low energy content; it is therefore not generally shipped, although Germany does export brown coal in small amounts to the rest of the EU.

All in all, about 14,700 people were employed in brown coal mining in Germany in 2017. Germany produced 171.3 million tons of lignite, which was 45% of the EU’s total production. The EU actually increased its lignite production in 2017, producing 382.6 million tons of lignite. Other lignite producers include Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Greece.

Lignite is incredibly dirty; it is the primary source of greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector even though it only makes up around 20 percent of energy production.

Most Germans would agree to phase out coal as soon as possible, but the German government has signaled it is in no hurry to get rid of coal. Likewise, the German Coal Commission is having trouble coming to a decision. However, activists are fighting to stop coal mining in the Hambach Forest and elsewhere throughout the country.

List of brown coal mines in Germany

Data via the German Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (2017)

Name of coal mine Opened in To close by Owner
Jänschwalde (Jänschwalde) 1974 2023 LEAG
Nochten (Nochten) 1968 2050 LEAG
Welzow-Süd (Welzow) 1962 2042 LEAG
Amsdorf (Amsdorf) 1958 2035 ROMONTA GmbH
Profen (Profen) 1941 2035 Mitteldeutsche Braunkohlengesellschaft(MIBRAG)
Tagebau Vereinigtes Schleenhain (Schleenhain) 1949 2040 Mitteldeutsche Braunkohlengesellschaft(MIBRAG)
Hambach 1978 2040 RWE Power
Garzweiler 1940s 2045 RWE Power
Inden 1978 2030 RWE Power
Reichwalde (Reichwalde) 1985 2040 LEAG

List of brown coal power plants in Germany

Data via the German environmental agency (Umwelt Bundesamt), last updated 2018.

Power Plant name Owner City Capacity (MW) District heat (MW) Built (Renovated)
Boxberg N Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Boxberg 500.0 60.0 1979 (1993)
Boxberg P Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Boxberg 500.0 1980 (1994)
Boxberg Q Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Boxberg 907.0 65.0 2000
Boxberg R Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Boxberg 675.0 2012
Buschhaus (Helmstedt) Helmstedter Revier GmbH (MIBRAG) Helmstedt 405.0 1985
Chemnitz Nord II C/30 eins energie in sachsen GmbH & Co. KG Chemnitz 100.0 130.0 1990 (2010)
Frechen / Wachtberg RWE Power AG Frechen 201.0 251.0 1959 (1988)
Frimmersdorf P RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 325.0 30.0 1966 (1990)
Frimmersdorf Q RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 310.0 1970 (1990)
Grevenbroich – Neurath A RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 312.0 1972
Grevenbroich – Neurath B RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 312.0 1972
Grevenbroich – Neurath C RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 312.0 1973
Grevenbroich – Neurath D RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 644.0 4.5 1975
Grevenbroich – Neurath E RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 644.0 4.5 1976
Grevenbroich – Neurath F (BoA 2) RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 1100.0 2012
Grevenbroich – Neurath G (BoA 3) RWE Power AG Grevenbroich 1100.0 2012
Jänschwalde A Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Peitz 535.0 76.3 1981 (1996)
Jänschwalde B Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Peitz 535.0 76.3 1982 (1996)
Jänschwalde C Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Peitz 535.0 76.3 1984 (1996)
Jänschwalde D Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Peitz 535.0 76.3 1985 (1996)
Jänschwalde E Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Peitz 535.0 76.3 1987 (1996)
Jänschwalde F Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Peitz 535.0 76.3 1989 (1996)
Lippendorf R Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Böhlen 933.6 230.0 2000
Lippendorf S EnBW Kraftwerke AG Böhlen 933.6 230.0 2000
Niederaußem C RWE Power AG Bergheim 335.0 1965
Niederaußem D RWE Power AG Bergheim 320.0 1968
Niederaußem E RWE Power AG Bergheim 315.0 1970
Niederaußem F RWE Power AG Bergheim 320.0 1971
Niederaußem G RWE Power AG Bergheim 687.0 245.0 1974 (2008)
Niederaußem H RWE Power AG Bergheim 687.0 1974 (2009)
Niederaußem K (BoA 1) RWE Power AG Bergheim 1012.0 2002
Schkopau A Uniper SE + Saale-Energie Korbetha 490.0 100.0 1996
Schkopau B Uniper SE + Saale-Energie Korbetha 490.0 100.0 1996
Schwarze Pumpe A Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Spremberg 800.0 60.0 1997
Schwarze Pumpe B Lausitz Energie Kraftwerke AG (LEAG) Spremberg 800.0 60.0 1998
Ville / Berrenrath (Hürth) RWE Power AG Hürth 107.0 1993
Weisweiler E (4) RWE Power AG Eschweiler 363.0 1965
Weisweiler F (5) RWE Power AG Eschweiler 340.0 1967
Weisweiler G (6) RWE Power AG Eschweiler 630.0 91.5 1974
Weisweiler H (7) RWE Power AG Eschweiler 625.0 91.5 1975