RWE is bringing forward the closure of 3.1GW of lignite capacity at Niederaussem K, Neurath F & G from end 2038 to December 2029. The timing of RWE’s announcement that it was accelerating the closure of German lignite capacity from 2038 to 2030 is a surprise in view of the need to prioritise security of supply. Indeed, RWE is postponing the decommissioning of 1.2GW capacity at Neurath E & D from December 2022 to March 2024 (option to extend to March 2025). This is in addition to returning 0.9GW of the lignite security reserve to the wholesale market until March 2024. At Carbon Tracker, we did not expect coal phaseout discussions with Government, putting legislative procedures in place, to resume until next year.