Nuclear mattersGermany's drive to end nuclear power serves as model for others
Germany’s ambitious plan to wean itself from nuclear power and transition to renewable energy can serve as a valuable model for other countries seeking to do the same; nuclear power provides Germany with 23 percent of its energy; seven of its seventeen nuclear reactors will be taken offline; experts warn that the shutdowns could cause instability in the power grid and even blackouts; economists also say that the transition will be costly and result in higher energy prices for consumers; the government remains optimistic; renewable energy provides 17 percent of Germany’s energy needs and the Environment Ministry says that in ten years renewable energy will constitute 40 percent of all production
Germany decides no nuclear power // Source: thelocal.de
Germany’s ambitious plan to wean itself from nuclear power and transition to renewable energy can serve as a valuable model for other countries seeking to do the same.
In the coming days, seven of its seventeen nuclear reactors will be taken offline.
Germany currently generates 23 percent of its total energy from nuclear power, roughly the same amount as the United States. After a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami rocked Japan, the country has struggled to contain overheating nuclear reactors and prevent a disaster. Following these events, German chancellor Angela Merkel declared that her government plans a “measured exit” from nuclear power.
Merkel said that the decision was made specifically as a result of events in Japan which she has called a “catastrophe of apocalyptic dimensions.”
In a speech to Germany’s lower-house of Parliament, Merkel said, “If the seemingly impossible becomes possible, the absolutely unlikely becomes reality in a highly developed country like Japan, that changes the situation.”
She continued, “Then we have a new situation, and this requires action.”
Dr. Felix Matthes, the head of the Energy and Climate Division of Germany’s Institute for Applied Ecology, says, “If we had the winds of Texas or the sun of California, the task here would be even easier.”
He added that Germany’s transition could prove as a valuable lesson for the United States in its efforts to transition to alternative energy.
“Given the great potential in the U.S., it would be feasible there in the long run too, even though it would necessitate huge infrastructure investments,” Matthes said.
Powering Germany without nuclear power will require at least a $210 billion investment in alternative energy sources and is likely to drive up energy prices.
Wolfgang Franz, the head of Germany’s independent economic advisory board, warns that the transition will be costly and result in higher electricity prices.
“Consumers must be prepared for significantly higher electricity prices in the future,” Franz said.
He also said that Merkel’s warning that nuclear plants are likely to face tougher safety regulations “would certainly mean that electricity gets more expensive.”
The German government has not been forthcoming on the total cost of upgrading infrastructure, but last year it said that it would need roughly $28 billion a year. The Environment Ministry has also reported that it would require $107 billion through 2030 for the installation of wind farms alone.
Germans currently pay a 3.5 cent per kilowatt-hour tax on all electricity to help finance renewable energy investments. The tax
