US President Donald Trump’s recent claims about German energy policy are not only misleading but seem intended to rally his Republican base in support of fossil fuels.
Trump claimed that Germany is opening a new coal plant every day and returning to coal power.
These statements are completely baseless and contradict the actual developments in Germany.
Trump’s False Claims in Context
At a campaign rally in Savannah, Georgia, in September 2024, Trump said:
“Germany tried it, but then they replaced Angela with someone else, and now that guy is building a coal plant in Germany every week.”
And just yesterday, Trump again claimed that Germany is opening a new coal plant every day. Trump lies – and repeats the lie, and repeats the lie, and repeats the lie…
Source: Stuttgarter Zeitung
Trump further claimed: “The Germans tried wind turbines, and it didn’t work,” he continued. He said Germany had tried every other solution in vain. “Now they’re opening a coal plant every week,” the president declared – without providing any evidence or details.
Instead, he repeatedly praises “beautiful, clean coal” as a source of energy. But the more often Trump repeats a lie, the more his followers believe him.
The Reality: Quite the Opposite
Coal plants in Germany are being shut down – just last week, another one was dismantled.
And it’s the same story worldwide: the share of fossil fuels is shrinking, while wind and solar energy continue to grow. Of course, this goes against the interests of Trump and the fossil fuel lobby.
Fact Check: Germany’s Energy Transition and Coal Phaseout
In reality, Germany has been pursuing a consistent energy transition for years, aiming to increase the share of renewable energy and phase out coal power. A key part of this strategy is the gradual decommissioning of coal-fired power plants.
According to the Federal Network Agency, between 2000 and 2021, Germany decommissioned coal power capacity totaling 11 gigawatts. This number highlights the steady decline of coal-fired power generation in the country.
Global Development: Growth of Wind and Solar Energy
Not only in Germany but worldwide, the share of wind and solar energy in electricity generation has been steadily rising. The following figures illustrate this global trend:
- 2000: Wind and solar energy accounted for less than 1% of global electricity generation.
- 2005: Around 1.1%, with wind contributing 0.95% and solar 0.15%.
- 2010: Combined share about 2.8%.
- 2015: Around 5% (wind: 3.5%, solar: 1.5%).
- 2020: Around 9.3% of global generation.
- 2023: Reached 13.4% (wind: 7.8%, solar: 5.5%).
- 2024: Preliminary data: solar alone at 6.9% of global generation.
These numbers clearly show the global shift toward renewable energy and disprove Trump’s claims.
Conclusion
Trump’s false claims about German energy policy appear to serve the purpose of mobilizing his Republican base in favor of fossil fuel expansion. However, actual developments, both in Germany and globally, show a clear trend toward renewable energy sources like wind and solar. These facts expose Trump’s statements as deliberate misinformation that ignores the progress of the global energy transition.
Additional Note: Demolition of the Ibbenbüren Coal Plant on April 6, 2025
Symbolic Phaseout of Coal in Germany
On April 6, 2025, significant parts of the former coal power plant in Ibbenbüren were successfully dismantled. First, the 100-meter-high boiler house was demolished in a controlled explosion. Then, the 125-meter-high cooling tower was brought down using a special steel cable technique.
These measures were part of preparations for building a converter station by the grid operator Amprion, which will soon feed wind power from the North Sea into the German electricity grid.
Demolition of Coal Plant in Ibbenbüren – Now a Converter Station for Wind Power from the North Sea:
Tags: #TrumpLies, #CoalPhaseout, #EnergyTransition, #FakeNews, #RenewableEnergy
