Coal power plants are already on schedule to be phased out by 2038 [1] but even now the mix of imported energy+coal+gas+wind+solar+hydro+biomass and the last few nuclear power stations on the grid are sometimes not enough to meet the power needs, which is why some fossil fuel plants were restarted, their shutdown pushed back and even new ones announced [2]. This is in part due to the insane plan to phase out both nuclear AND coal at the same time which when combined with ever rising electricity usage is certainly a bad combination. The misplaced hysteria over the Fukushima incident leading to this plan and situation is just utterly insane (Germany in comparison to the Japanese coastline: no tsunamis, no (major) earthquakes, etc.).
[1]: "On 26 January 2019, a group of federal and state leaders as well as industry representatives, environmentalists, and scientists made an agreement to close all 84 coal plants in the country by 2038. The move is projected to cost €40 billion in compensation alone to closed businesses. Coal was used to generate almost 40% of the country's electricity in 2018 and is expected to be replaced by renewable energy and natural gas.[18] 24 coal plants are planned to be closed by 2022 with all but 8 closed by 2030. The final date is expected to be assessed every 3 years." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Germany#Coal_power)
[2]: "As of 2017 Germany imported more than half of its energy" and
"In 2020 a number of previously shut down fossil gas plants (Irsching 4, Irsching 5) were restarted quoting "heavy fluctuations of level of power generated from the wind and sun"[78] and a new fossil gas power plant was announced by RWE near the former Biblis nuclear power plant shut down in 2017. The project is declared as part of "decarbonization plan" where renewable energy capacity is accompanied by fossil gas plants to cover for intermittency.[79] A new fossil gas power plant will be also opened from 2023 in Leipheim, Bavaria to compensate for loss of power caused by "nuclear exit" in this region.[80] In 2021 plan to decommission Heyden 4 coal power plant was cancelled and the plant remains online to compensate for shutdown of nuclear power plan in Grohnde." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energiewende#After_2017)
[1]: "On 26 January 2019, a group of federal and state leaders as well as industry representatives, environmentalists, and scientists made an agreement to close all 84 coal plants in the country by 2038. The move is projected to cost €40 billion in compensation alone to closed businesses. Coal was used to generate almost 40% of the country's electricity in 2018 and is expected to be replaced by renewable energy and natural gas.[18] 24 coal plants are planned to be closed by 2022 with all but 8 closed by 2030. The final date is expected to be assessed every 3 years." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_in_Germany#Coal_power)
[2]: "As of 2017 Germany imported more than half of its energy" and "In 2020 a number of previously shut down fossil gas plants (Irsching 4, Irsching 5) were restarted quoting "heavy fluctuations of level of power generated from the wind and sun"[78] and a new fossil gas power plant was announced by RWE near the former Biblis nuclear power plant shut down in 2017. The project is declared as part of "decarbonization plan" where renewable energy capacity is accompanied by fossil gas plants to cover for intermittency.[79] A new fossil gas power plant will be also opened from 2023 in Leipheim, Bavaria to compensate for loss of power caused by "nuclear exit" in this region.[80] In 2021 plan to decommission Heyden 4 coal power plant was cancelled and the plant remains online to compensate for shutdown of nuclear power plan in Grohnde." (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energiewende#After_2017)