The EC has provisionally approved Germany’s plan for new gas energy capacities

The German federal government has announced that it has reached a preliminary agreement with the European Commission on a general system for supporting new gas energy capacities, according to German Policy.

According to the country’s Ministry of Economy, a tender for the construction of 12 GW of new capacity will be announced this year, which will include both the construction of modern dispatch gas power plants, which are expected to be commissioned by 2031, and the targeted reconstruction or expansion of some existing facilities.

However, the final implementation of the strategy remains subject to a mandatory assessment by the EC of state aid, which will determine its compatibility with EU competition and subsidy rules.

Government officials explained that the new gas-fired power plants are intended to function as controlled reserve capacity during periods when there is insufficient generation from renewable sources. The German strategy is positioned as an integral part of Germany’s broader transition roadmap, given the complete phase-out of nuclear power and the planned gradual phase-out of coal-fired generation by 2038.

Although the official legislative text still has to be reviewed and approved at the EU level, the ministry has confirmed that a consensus has been reached with the EC on the main elements of the mechanism. The initial ambition of 20 GW of new gas capacity during the negotiations was reduced, with priority given to an initial tranche of 12 GW.

In November 2025, it was reported that Germany had reduced the amount of gas energy capacity it plans to develop to 10 GW, which is about half of what was planned at the beginning of the year. In this way, the country sought to strike a balance between decarbonization and support for renewable energy sources. At that time, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted that the European Commission was inclined to adopt new plans, which also included a commitment to build an additional 2 GW of capacity using any technology.