By focusing on renewable and storage technologies, RWE’s energy generation will be climate neutral by 2040. We invest up to €1.5 billion (net) towards this each year. Electricity is the most important energy source of our time for innovation and modernisation. The more digitalisation and electrification progress further, the greater the demand for a permanently available, secure supply will be. Yet, climate change is pushing us to significantly reduce emissions. We intend to cover the rising demand for electricity as best we can and protect the climate at the same time. The steps we need to take towards climate neutrality are clear.

From 2020 until 2030

• In the UK, RWE will decommission its last coal-fired power plant in 2020. 
• The Inden and Hambach opencast mines in Germany will be decommissioned by 2030. 
• Dutch policy-makers are keen to end coal-fired electricity generation by 2030. RWE will therefore stop emitting CO₂ from burning hard coal in the Netherlands by then. RWE is endeavouring to convert both its plants in the Netherlands to biomass and will only operate them with this primary energy source, provided it is politically and economically feasible.

From 2030 until 2040

• The Garzweiler opencast mine will only be in operation after 2030 for the purpose of supplying RWE’s remaining power stations and refinement facilities with fuel until coal-fired electricity generation comes to an end.
• Germany plans to end coal-fired electricity generation by 2038 at the latest. 

2040 onwards

• In addition to an extensive international portfolio with wind turbines and solar panels, RWE will rely on storage devices, biomass and in particular gas-fired power plants run with “green” gas, which will offset fluctuations in the production of energy from the wind and sun.

RWE is committed to the Paris Agreement (COP 21) and the climate protection targets specified by legislators in our markets. As part of the agreement concluded in December 2015, almost all countries in the world committed to limiting the global temperature increase to significantly less than 2 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels and striving to limit the increase to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Countries have committed to national reduction targets in order to achieve this. The European Union subsequently committed to cutting emissions of greenhouse gases by at least 40% by 2030 compared to the base year 1990. RWE contributes to this by supporting the expansion of renewables and improving energy efficiency in Europe as a whole and in its member states. Our ambitious climate protection targets surpass the goals set by the EU and our key markets.

Pollutants, such as nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide, particulate matter and mercury, are also emitted during the generation of electricity and heat at our power stations. Statutory thresholds are observed in our plants with the help of primary emission reduction measures, such as the optimisation of the firing technology and secondary emission reduction measures, including duct extraction and desulphurisation in all operating conditions. The goal is to ensure compliance with the EU targets to reduce mercury emissions from mid-2021 onwards using improved technology.

Particulate matter and noise are the main emissions associated with open-cast mines. We always take suitable measures to reduce these in agreement with supervisory authorities and taking account of operational and local factors. (Concrete measures are outlined in the CR report.) The operations monitoring services of the open-cast mines are available around the clock for any affected citizens, so that we can take remedial action as swiftly as possible in the event of acute noise pollution.