The Curse of the Dunkelflaute

Of all the nightmarish tales German parents tell their children at night, the curse of the Dunkelflaute may be the most frightening.

Never heard of it? 

You’re not alone. 

Truth is, I’d bet most people outside of a meteorology department have never even heard of the term before. And the Dunkelflaute is far scarier than my grandmother's fantastical myths about Baba Jaga creeping outside my window to get me to sleep. 

You see, the Dunkelflaute isn’t fantasy — it’s a very real thing with severe implications.

And if it happens this winter, German families will suddenly find themselves in a very precarious situation. But this nightmare is a bed that the German government made for itself. 

And now, it's desperately trying to avoid the worst of the consequences. 

To put it simply, a Dunkelflaute is an event known amongst meteorologists as an anticyclonic gloom. It’s associated with very dense cloud cover and fog that can last for several days. 

In northern Europe, it can occur from a static high-pressure system that causes a weak wind and overcast weather. 

For most of us, the Dunkelflaute probably feels more like an inconvenience, doesn’t it? An overcast day that might ruin your walk through a park. 

But to countries like Germany, it could have a devastating effect on energy production. 

Why? 

Well, because Dunkelflaute events can have a crippling effect on renewable energy sources like wind and solar. 

And when it comes to wind and solar power, I know for a fact that my readers, at some point or another, have heard someone quip, “What happens if the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine?” 

I can tell you one thing — we may find out soon.

Make no mistake, this is a nightmare scenario for countries like Germany that went all-in over the last decade building wind and solar capacity. 

Last spring, as Russian natural gas supplies became increasingly volatile, Germany announced it was doubling onshore wind capacity by 115 GW by 2030. 

In 2021, the German government committed to 80% renewable electricity by 2030.

But this situation is much worse than simply adding renewable capacity to your energy mix. 

Nobody in their right mind would be opposed to a world powered by renewables. In fact, the very definition of a fossil fuel being nonrenewable means that this transition must happen at some point.

The real crisis is how countries like Germany are getting there.

In 2019, Germany announced that it was shutting down all 84 of its coal-fired power plants over the next two decades. Keep in mind that coal plants accounted for 40% of the country’s electrical generation at the time. 

Today, Russian gas has been cut off via the Nord Stream pipeline, and we’re now heading into the coldest months of the year in northern Europe. 

So what happens when the wind stops blowing, the sun stops shining, and you’re shivering in bed at night?

The good news is that the German government may have recognized this situation for what it is.

That’s why you’re starting to see Germany extend the life of nuclear plants or waylay plans to kill its coal industry. 

But here’s the thing: It’s not enough.

Fortunately, we’ve already seen how Europe will handle this energy crisis. Germany, as well as most of Europe, is turning toward LNG to keep the heat on and the factories running. 

But it’s not enough for investors like us to sit on the sidelines and watch this story play out. Countries like Germany are already fast-tracking LNG projects, which will take billions of dollars and years to build. 

Or will they?

In this new investment report, let me show you firsthand how Europe will sidestep the crisis it's facing this winter. Inside, I’ll show you my three must-buy stocks that are specifically tied to Europe’s sudden thirst for LNG. 

But I can only open the door for you… It’s up to you to take the first step.

Until next time,

Keith Kohl

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A true insider in the technology and energy markets, Keith’s research has helped everyday investors capitalize from the rapid adoption of new technology trends and energy transitions. Keith connects with hundreds of thousands of readers as the Managing Editor of Energy & Capital, as well as the investment director of Angel Publishing’s Energy Investor and Technology and Opportunity.

For nearly two decades, Keith has been providing in-depth coverage of the hottest investment trends before they go mainstream — from the shale oil and gas boom in the United States to the red-hot EV revolution currently underway. Keith and his readers have banked hundreds of winning trades on the 5G rollout and on key advancements in robotics and AI technology.

Keith’s keen trading acumen and investment research also extend all the way into the complex biotech sector, where he and his readers take advantage of the newest and most groundbreaking medical therapies being developed by nearly 1,000 biotech companies. His network includes hundreds of experts, from M.D.s and Ph.D.s to lab scientists grinding out the latest medical technology and treatments. You can join his vast investment community and target the most profitable biotech stocks in Keith’s Topline Trader advisory newsletter.