Bundestag Passes Law for New Gas Power Plants

SPD energy policy spokesperson Nina Scheer pointed to coordination with the EU Commission. SPD member of parliament Zorn described the law as an important building block for strengthening supply security and for climate protection. Deputy chair of the Union parliamentary group, Sepp Müller (CDU), called the power plant law a "Sicherheitsgurt" (seatbelt) for Germany's electricity supply. Müller stressed that guaranteed capacity was also needed for data centres, steel production, the heat transition and electric cars.

Criticism came from, among others, the Greens and the Left Party. Green politician Katrin Uhlig warned that Germany would become more dependent on gas imports by 2045, and that it was unclear who would bear the costs. Left Party politician Jörg Cezanne called, in the interest of climate protection, for the fastest possible switch to hydrogen. The AfD spoke out in favour of nuclear power; its member of parliament Steffen Kotré called the plan "Kokolores" (nonsense) and warned of billions in costs.

Criticism and Support

Environmental associations and energy experts see the law as a subsidy programme for an outdated technology. They criticise that alternative technologies such as large-scale electricity storage will only be considered in a later tender. Industry representatives such as the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), on the other hand, expressly welcomed the project.

According to the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs, the first tenders are to be launched later this year. A prerequisite, however, is state aid approval by the EU Commission. Scheer also warned against building too much gas-fired capacity and said that "Lückenfüllende Kraftwerke" (gap-filling power plants) were becoming increasingly important for system stability.

Costs and Further Procedure

From 2031, electricity customers will have to bear additional costs through a new levy, which is to finance billions in subsidies for the operators. How high the burden will be in concrete terms is currently unclear. The next step in the legislative process is deliberation in the Bundesrat.

The law is part of the federal government's strategy to reliably secure electricity supply even in times without sun and wind. It is envisaged that the new plants will operate cost-efficiently and be convertible to hydrogen by 2045.

The report on the vote was broadcast on 09.07.2026 on Deutschlandfunk. It is based on a report by the dpa news agency.

Following the Bundestag's decision, the Bundesrat and the EU Commission must now approve the project before the first tenders can actually begin. By the end of 2031, the plants are then to be put into operation in stages.