Episode 3 – Germany’s Lignite Phase-Out

This podcast episode discusses the European Commission’s State aid decision to open a formal investigation procedure with regards to the German lignite phase-out plans, which were passed with the coal phase-out law of 2020. The episode highlights the doubts expressed by the Commission in its opening decision and also touches upon possible additional doubts on some of the other assessment criteria that will have to be addressed by the Commission’s formal investigation. The podcast also touches upon the new section in the Commission’s draft Climate, Environmental and Energy Aid Guidelines, on aid for the early closure of coal plants and its provisions on compensation for such closure.