 New coal-fired power plants have a minimum load capability of approximately 40%, with further potential to reduce this to 20–25%.The reason is that the output of the coal boiler is controlled via direct fuel combustion and not, as is the case with a gas combined-cycle power plant, via a heat recovery steam generator with an upstream gas turbine.Germany has been opening new coal power plants until recently, following a 2007 plan to build 26 new coal plants.