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Essen (dpa) - The energy company RWE begins with the exit from coal-fired power generation decided by the Bundestag.
The company wanted to end electricity production in Block D of its Niederaussem lignite power station in the Rhenish Revier on Friday evening.
The block with an output of 300 megawatts must be taken off the grid by December 31, in accordance with the provisions of the law to end coal-fired power generation.
A company spokesman said that it will be switched off earlier "due to market conditions".
The "Rheinische Post" reported first.
Block D in Niederaussem is a particularly old facility. It had already been put into operation in May 1968. According to RWE, the shutdown will save around 2.5 million tons of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide every year. A total of 300 jobs were lost. RWE will gradually shut down further lignite units in the coming years. The last power plant blocks are to be shut down on December 31, 2038. RWE will receive compensation totaling 2.6 billion euros.