Germany’s second-largest coal miner, LEAG, intends to invest €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) in renewable energy at one of its lignite operations, aligning with the government’s increasing pressure to phase out coal.
At the Boxberg opencast mine, the company intends to establish 7 GW of wind and solar energy, accompanied by 3 GWh of energy storage and 2 GW of hydrogen production.
LEAG aims to commission the first gigawatt of generating capacity within four years and eventually develop up to 14 gigawatts of renewable generation at the site by 2040.
Furthermore, LEAG has entered into a €200 million agreement with ESS Tech Inc., a US-based energy storage producer, to construct an iron flow battery system at the Boxberg site. The company is also exploring the implementation of floating solar panels to repurpose flooded coal mines.
Despite these efforts, LEAG is resisting Berlin’s accelerated coal exit timetable, which aims for a phase-out by 2030 instead of the legally mandated deadline of 2038. In response to the energy crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Germany temporarily reactivated some coal plants, and discussions are underway with LEAG regarding an early coal exit agreement.
Source: MINING.COM
Image of Boxberg Power plant: Leag.de
