Germany shut down its last nuclear power plants in 2023, marking the end of an era for nuclear energy in the country.

The nuclear phase-out decision was made in 2002 by Gerhard Schröder, and later accelerated by Angela Merkel after the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

Germany's nuclear power plants generated 133 billion kWh in 2010, accounting for 25% of the country's total generation capacity.

The country's household electricity price is 80% higher than France's, and the average wholesale price of electricity in Germany was 0.03767 euros/kWh in 2019.

Germany's Energiewende policy aims to increase renewable energy generation and phase out nuclear energy, with a goal of generating 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030.

The country plans to abandon coal by 2030 and aims to be climate neutral by 2045.

Renewable energy provided 46% of electricity in 2021, while nuclear energy accounted for 13% and coal accounted for 51%.

The shutdown of nuclear power plants has sparked criticism due to increased reliance on coal-fired power, with fossil fuels accounting for 46.3% of Germany's electricity generation.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has impacted Germany's energy plans, with the country keeping two nuclear plants on standby until mid-April 2023 as a backup capacity.

This decision is a partial reversal of the nuclear exit plan, which was originally scheduled to be completed by 2022.

The German energy market is struggling to cope with the loss of nuclear energy, with the country facing an energy crisis due to reduced Russian gas supplies.

The electricity price in Germany is 160% higher than in 2019, and the country's industrial electricity demand has fallen due to high electricity prices.

Despite the challenges, Germany remains committed to its Energiewende policy and is exploring alternative energy sources, including wind turbines, solar panels, and biogas plants.

The country has also agreed to a Franco-German Energy Partnership, which will supply natural gas and electricity between the two countries.

There is no indication that sectors of the German population are pushing to bring nuclear reactors back online, with the focus instead on increasing renewable energy generation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

However, some experts argue that the rejection of nuclear energy can be fatal for Germany's economy, and that the country may struggle with energy production without nuclear power.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) president has advised Germany to reconsider its nuclear phase-out, stating that nuclear energy is climate-friendly and necessary for affordable energy prices.

The European Commission classifies nuclear energy as a green energy source, and the WMO promotes non-fossil energy sources, including nuclear energy, to reduce greenhouse gases.

Germany's energy transition policy has led to a significant increase in renewable energy generation, with wind and photovoltaics accounting for nearly half of Germany's installed capacity, but only 28% of generation.

The country aims to be carbon neutral by 2045 and has set a target of 80% of power output to come from wind and solar energy by 2030.

Overall, Germany's nuclear phase-out has significant implications for the country's industrial competitiveness, and the government must balance the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the need to maintain a stable and competitive economy.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has affected Germany's energy plans, and the country is now more reliant on polluting coal and natural gas in the short term.

Germany's energy security will not be affected by the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, according to the government, but the country may face power shortages without nuclear energy, according to the WMO chief.

The country's industrial electricity demand has fallen due to high electricity prices, and German chemical and fertilizer production has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade.

Germany's move away from nuclear energy has presented significant challenges, but the country is committed to finding alternative energy solutions and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

The country is exploring a range of low-carbon technologies, including green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, to address energy supply gaps and price volatility.

Germany's energy market is coping with the loss of nuclear energy by investing in renewable energy sources and promoting energy efficiency, with the government seeking to reduce gas consumption by 20% to avoid a shortfall.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a shift in German energy policy, with the country relying heavily on Russian gas supplies and facing a potential energy crisis.

Overall, Germany's move away from nuclear energy is part of its broader strategy to become carbon neutral, with the country exploring various low-carbon technologies to address potential energy supply gaps and price volatility.

Germany shut down its last nuclear power plants in 2023, marking the end of an era for nuclear energy in the country.

Title:

Content: In early 2023, Germany shut down its last nuclear power plants, so this winter will be Germany ’ s first “nuclear-free winter ”. Despite the German government ’ s vow to modernize its energy system and develop renewable energy, Germany ’ s fossil fuel consumption is higher and its power system is dirtier.
Commenting on Germany ’ s electricity problem, Reuters columnist Gavin Maguire wrote that the country ’ s electricity problem began with a gradual decline in the share of nuclear power in Germany ’ s power generation structure. In 2014, the contribution of nuclear power to Germany ’ s total electricity supply fell by only 6% in 2022, and finally dropped to zero after the last eight reactor outages in 2023.
According to the think tank Ember, Germany's last eight nuclear reactors generated about 8.1 gigawatts (8,000 megawatts) of electricity, a gap that was filled by solar and wind capacity.
It seems to be okay.
However, as solar power (Germany ’ s second largest clean power after wind) suffers from reduced sunlight this year, power generation will fall sharply this winter, and the total amount of clean electricity in Germany will also decline, but winter has always been Europe ’ s peak electricity consumption (heating demand), so German power producers are forced to increase the amount of electricity generated from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas. of emissions.
According to the data, in the first nine months of 2023, Germany ’ s total electricity generation fell compared to last year, including clean electricity and fossil energy power; clean electricity fell by 5.6% compared to the same period in 2022, and fossil fuel power generation fell by 21%.
In other words, this year has been the most electricity efficient year in Germany since 2017.
But don ’ t think that ’ s a good thing, because Germany ’ s industrial electricity demand has fallen this year, and the economy has certainly followed suit.
Why is that so?
Data from the London Stock Exchange shows that the high price of electricity in Germany is a key factor. Compared to 2019, the price of electricity in Germany is 160% higher this year, although it is much better than the highest price last year (electricity prices soared last year due to the Russian-Ukrainian war, this year has fallen), but the German industry is still unwilling to pay.
According to data from the London Stock Exchange (LSEG), German chemical and fertilizer production (previously produced using abundant and cheap natural gas) has fallen to its lowest level in more than a decade in 2023 as producers cut production.
Production of cars, steel, batteries and turbines has also been cut, causing Germany, Europe ’ s largest economy, to experience a rare export slump this year.
In order to support the German industrial recovery, the German government asked the power companies to suppress the cost of electricity, and actively increase the production of cheap renewable energy, did get some results, but after entering the autumn, the sunshine time reduced, Germany September to December's total solar power, must be more than 80% lower than the peak.
Since solar power has accounted for more than 20% of Germany ’ s total electricity generation each month in the past five months, such a serious decline in clean power production will inevitably lead to a tight overall electricity supply; in order to make up for the shortage of solar power, Germany can only maximize the use of wind power, wind power production in Germany will increase in winter.
In order to supplement the intermittent problem of wind power and ensure that the total generation of electricity rises as demand grows, power companies have to increase the generation of coal and gas, which can be controlled by power plants to balance the needs of the national electricity market.
Speaking of which, it is clear that Germany will have to rely more on fossil fuels to generate electricity, and its carbon emissions will inevitably increase.
In order to determine its ideal of a non-nuclear homeland, Germany has caused more pollution, and the cost of electricity is still high, which has hit the German industry.
In August of this year, economists criticized "Germany's economic recession is already the sick man of Europe", which is all related to the abandonment of nuclear power.
German power mix may get dirtier for 1st non-nuclear winter
# Germany # Electricity # Dirty # Carbon # Solar

The nuclear phase-out decision was made in 2002 by Gerhard Schröder, and later accelerated by Angela Merkel after the Fukushima disaster in 2011.

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Germany shuts down three of its six remaining nuclear power plants
17: 00 31.12.2021 Source: Interfax
In Germany, on Friday, half of the six still operating nuclear power plants will shut down, according to the Associated Press.Then, according to the plan of the authorities, in another year it is planned to close the remaining three nuclear power plants and completely switch to other sources of energy.
The decision to phase out nuclear power was made in 2002 by Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
Then his successor, Angela Merkel, first came out in favor of still extending the life of the German nuclear power plant.
However, after the disaster at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011, Merkel changed her position and decided that in 2022 the country should complete the closure of all nuclear power plants.
The current government of Germany, headed by Olaf Scholz, left these plans in force.
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Germany's nuclear power plants generated 133 billion kWh in 2010, accounting for 25% of the country's total generation capacity.

Title:

Content: ● Talk from the beginning
In October 1973, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, imposed a embargo on countries supporting Israel with oil as a weapon. The embargo lasted until March 1974, when the global price of oil rose by nearly 300%, from $3 per barrel to nearly $12.
Recognizing the importance of stable energy supply and price, many countries have begun to develop nuclear power.
In that era, the development of nuclear energy in Germany and France went hand in hand. Both countries imported nuclear power technology from the United States, and both established independent nuclear power industries.
In 1979, the Three Mile Island accident in the United States did not change the Social Democratic Party's support for nuclear energy in Germany at the time, and then the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Russia caused a major impact on Germany's nuclear energy policy. In August 1986, the Social Democratic Party passed a bill to abandon nuclear power within 10 years, Germany terminated the development plan for new reactors, and power companies dared not plan to build a nuclear power plant. Merchants.
Overall, the passage of the Act did not affect the operation of the nuclear power plants in transit in Germany, with a capacity of 20,339 and 20,583,000 megawatts in 23 years from 1986 to 2009, and a further 22.9 million megawatts in 1989.
In other words, the ruling party in Germany recognized the importance of nuclear power to the country ’ s economic development and did not implement the nuclear abolition bill hastily passed in August 1986 under the anti-nuclear passion of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster in Russia.
Obviously, the non-nuclear file, can only say, can not be done.
Non-nuclear weapons are a bargaining chip for political power
In October 1998, the Social Democratic Party and the Green Party organized a joint government and began to discuss a non-nuclear timetable with power companies. The Green Party, a small party with ideological leadership and national recognition of only 6.7%, changed the national energy policy through the power to gain the leadership of energy policies that are closely related to national security.
The assumption of power by political parties recognized by more people is the basic tenet of the operation of democratic politics.
When, in order to gain political power, different political parties used coalitions to lead to the opinions of the minority and hostage the understanding of the majority, is this the normal state of democratic politics?
Ridiculous, even more pathetic!
After numerous and varied threats, the coalition government and the power companies reached an agreement in late 2000.
The key point of the agreement is that the government will allow the units in operation at the time to continue operating until the cumulative generation of 2,623 billion kWh, equivalent to an average useful life of the units of 32 years (the power company originally expected 36 years), and that Germany will be non-nuclear by 2022.
The government is committed to ensuring the smooth operation of the nuclear power plant and the disposal of nuclear waste without political interference. In June 2001, the “Red Green ” coalition government signed an agreement with four power companies.
The agreement clearly stipulates that Germany will no longer build nuclear power plants and allow the temporary storage of used nuclear fuel at the site.
Based on the cap on nuclear power generation, a less cost-effective unit was stopped in 2003 and 2005, with a installed capacity of 640,000 MW and 340,000 MW, respectively, and it operated for 31 and 36 years.
In addition, a unit with a capacity of 1.22 million megawatts was built in 1986 on the banks of the Rhine. The unit was discontinued in 1988 due to anti-nuclear protests, and its power company abandoned the unit in 2003 to begin decommissioning work. Two units with a capacity of 771,000 megawatts and 1.26 million megawatts were suspended in 2007 and 2009, respectively, for 30 years and 25 years.
These two units are boiling water reactors, which are different from the mainstream pressurized water reactors in Germany.
Germany ’ s non-nuclear decision in 2000 was a pragmatic compromise that quelled the protests of anti-nuclear groups, kept the plant running smoothly, and provided the government with enough time to think about national energy policy.
An industrial leader reminded the government that reliable and affordable energy is an important part of Germany ’ s economic policy.
Opposition leaders in Congress said there was a chance they would change the decision.
The expectation of power companies is to increase the average operating year of all nuclear power units from 32 to 40 years, and then to 60 years depending on the situation of individual units.
● New opportunities brought about by the change
In September 2009, the new coalition government of the Christian Democrats and the Liberal Party announced plans to withdraw the "non-nuclear policy".
At this time, Germany still has 17 operational nuclear power units, but one is in a long-term state of decommissioning.
If all the units can be extended from the original agreed 32 years of operation to 60 years, it is estimated that the additional profit of the power company will be 100 billion euros, and the government must take a share, let alone 50 billion euros.
Financial negotiations took a year to complete.
The new nuclear policy allows for 40 years of operation (an additional 8 years) for units that were negotiated before 1980, and 14 years for units that were negotiated after 1980.
The government pays dividends on the extension of nuclear power plants to the national treasury under various taxes, donations and surcharges.
For example, the tax on nuclear fuel based on the weight of nuclear fuel used is increased to 2.3 billion euros per year, equivalent to 0.016 euros per kilowatt-hour.
In order to supplement the development of renewable energy, we will provide 300 million euros each in 2011 and 2012, 200 million euros each from 2013 to 2016, and 0.009 euros per nuclear power generation after 2016. The funds will also fund a recovery plan for a waste salt mine that is disposed of from nuclear waste.
Germany ’ s policy of abandoning nuclear energy has officially turned a corner.
• Planning does not change
On March 15, 2011, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced that the new nuclear energy policy adopted only four months ago was suspended for three months. At the same time, seven units that had been negotiated before 1980 were immediately shut down. This represents a decrease of 8,336 MW, or 6.4% of the total installed capacity.
In May 2011, the German regulatory authority issued a statement saying that after various assessments, all German nuclear power units are in good condition and there are no concerns about their safety.
Despite this, the German government announced on May 30 that under pressure from anti-nuclear local governments, it will return to its original non-nuclear policy and close all nuclear power plants by 2022. At the end of June and July 8, the German House of Representatives and the Senate respectively passed decrees to expand wind power generation in response to the shutdown of nuclear power plants, while agreeing to build coal-fired power plants and gas plants without changing carbon reduction targets.
In order to solve the problem of insufficient baseload power after the nuclear power plant is stopped, electricity will be imported from France, Russia and Poland.
It ’ s all about non-nuclear policy.
Some nuclear power plants have been forced to shut down, but the nuclear power plants that continue to operate still have to pay various heavy taxes according to the 2011 revision of the Atomic Energy Law. Tax rebates of €6.3 billion between 2011 and 2016 and the suspension of tax on nuclear fuel.
The nuclear fuel tax was abolished at the end of 2016. In order to avoid the nuclear fuel tax, the fuel exchange time of five German units was postponed to January 2017, and a total of 8 billion kWh of power generation was lost from mid-December to the end of February 2016.
After 10 years of litigation, the government reached a settlement with four power companies for a total amount of 4.8 billion euros.
This amount of money is the most direct price of policy repetition.
In response to nuclear waste, in order to maintain a stable power supply, the huge investment in power generation and transmission systems is a heavier burden on society.
In May 2011, the German power grid department warned that the closure of nuclear power plants will lead to insufficient baseload power generation capacity, and renewable energy generation facilities are scattered, and renewable energy rich areas and power consumption areas are at a distance, requiring transmission networks.
The lack of power transmission capacity will make the grid fragile and unreliable, and the stability of the grid is facing great challenges. In May 2012, Germany announced a 10-year plan to expand and strengthen the grid, with a total of 26 transmission projects, with a total investment of 10 billion euros.
Germany calls the policy of increasing the proportion of renewable energy generation and phasing out nuclear energy as Energiewende (energytransition), an appropriate translation is also our slogan, "energy transition"!
For the public, the direct cost of the energy transition is that household electricity prices are the second highest in Europe and the highest in Denmark.
According to statistics, in December 2021, the price of domestic electricity in Germany was 80% higher than that of France.
Electricity prices in Germany
The electricity market in Germany is completely liberalized, and power companies sell electricity generated by various forms of electricity generation in the wholesale market. The price of electricity in the wholesale market is open information, which allows power companies to obtain electricity from the wholesale market and transmit it to consumers through the electricity network.
Taxes paid by different types of consumers are also different.
Due to various measures to reward renewable energy, distorting the market mechanism, the German wholesale electricity price is lower than other countries, and sometimes even negative, 298 hours of wholesale electricity price is negative in 2019 and 139 hours in 2021.
The average wholesale price of electricity in the German electricity market is 0.03767 euros / kWh in 2019, 0.03047 euros / kWh in 2020, and 0.09685 euros / kWh in 2021. The average price in the first half of the year is 0.054 euros / kWh, rising to 0.1380 euros / kWh in the second half of the year.
As shown in the attached figure, the Russian-Ukrainian war caused a surge in gas prices, which had a huge impact on electricity prices in Germany; in July 2022, the high price of 0.3153 euros per degree was 6.4 times that of January 2019!
The price of electricity for domestic or small commercial use in Germany is very high.
Look at the price structure of electricity for German households.
Germany ’ s household electricity price in 2006 was 0.1946 euros per kWh. It rose to 0.3216 euros per kWh in 2021, and has reached 0.3714 euros in 2022. In 2021, more than half of Germany ’ s household and small business electricity price burden came from additional taxes or fees due to energy policies. 16% is a sales tax, 20% of the renewable energy surcharge is paid to the renewable energy industry, 6% of the electricity tax (also known as the ecological tax), and there are three smaller surcharges.
If so, why not in the first place?
In 2010, Germany had 17 nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of more than 20 million megawatts, accounting for about 15% of the total installed capacity. In 2010, the total generation capacity was 133 billion kWh, accounting for about 25% of the total generation capacity. At the end of 2011, there were 9 nuclear power units with a total installed capacity of 12 million megawatts.
Compared to 1990, the total installed capacity was 1.3 times, but the power generation increased by only 11%.
Wind and photovoltaics account for nearly half of the installed capacity, but only 28% of the generation.
Nuclear power plant capacity accounted for only 4.1%, but power generation accounted for 12.4%. In 2021, three nuclear power units were shut down, and there are only three units in operation, with a total installed capacity of 4.055 million megawatts, accounting for less than 2%, and the total power generation may be about 6%. Can the economy afford to shut down the remaining three nuclear plants in 2022?
According to a news report on August 18, "Germany is facing an energy shortage crisis this winter and has planned to delay the closure of the country's last three nuclear power plants."
The decision has not yet been formally adopted by Prime Minister Bernard Shaw and may need to be passed by parliament. Details are still being discussed and a cabinet resolution will have to wait weeks for an energy demand assessment to come out, but officials believe the results are already known, according to three officials.
According to online data, Germany has eight decommissioned units that have not been in service for 40 years, and if the international consensus is that nuclear power units can be used for at least 60 years, the extension of these units can significantly reduce the dependence on imported natural gas.
It remains to be seen whether the shift in German nuclear policy will extend to these eight units.
● Other Mountain Stone
Looking at Taiwan ’ s electricity situation, the schedule summarizes Taiwan ’ s electricity data for 2019 and 2021, which can be compared with Germany ’ s data for 2019. Germany ’ s total installed capacity and total power generation in 2019 are 4.1 times and 2.2 times that of Taiwan, respectively.
The average capacity factor for electrical equipment in Germany is 30% and in Taiwan it is 56%.
Renewable energy cannot generate electricity all the time, and when the installed capacity is large, the average capacity factor will be low.
But there are other factors, in 2019, Germany ’ s natural gas installation capacity of 46 million megawatts, generating 90.8 billion kWh; Taiwan is 17.57 million megawatts and 91.2 billion kWh; the installed capacity is only 38% of Germany ’ s, but the power generation is equivalent.
Germany ’ s electricity grid is part of the European continent ’ s electricity grid, and data can be found on the network. In 2020, Germany exported 66.39 billion kWh of electricity and imported 48.05 billion kWh. About 20% of Germany ’ s domestic electricity production is exchanged with other countries.
If the exchange is not possible, it is necessary to abandon electricity when the amount of renewable energy generation exceeds the amount of electricity used or the capacity of the grid; when the renewable energy generation is insufficient, more dispatchable units are needed.
Renewable energy generation must be coupled with a power generation facility that can be scheduled, so that the power grid can be stable.
When the capacity of renewable energy installations is large, the capacity of the installations with the power generation facilities that can be adjusted will also increase.
The average capacity factor of German natural gas units is only 15%.
In other words, Germany ’ s natural gas unit is idle 85% of the time, isn ’ t that the cost of renewable energy?
When renewable energy must have a total installed capacity of 12.7 million megawatts (54.8%) of renewable energy (wind, light, water, and waste) with a capacity of 255.1 billion kWh (41.9%); the installed capacity is 16.3 times that of Taiwan ’ s 7.8 million megawatts in 2019, and the power generation capacity is 16.8 times that of Taiwan ’ s share is only 5.6%. Degrees.
From the number of renewable energy generation, Taiwan really can not be compared with Germany, but can we really develop to the realm of Germany?
Germany ’ s territory covers an area of 357,622 square kilometers, 9.9 times Taiwan ’ s 35,980 square kilometers.
Simply estimate the amount of renewable energy generated per square kilometer of land in Germany is only 1.7 times that of Taiwan.
In other words, if Taiwan ’ s renewable energy development can be as good as Germany ’ s, our renewable energy generation capacity can be doubled again! Is that enough? What does the rest rely on? Petrified fuels? Taiwan ’ s use of fossil fuels for power generation is 82.0% in 2019 and 83.3% in 2021. What should we do about the reduction of greenhouse gases? Energy can be developed, hydrogen is an energy carrier, not energy, that is, hydrogen production still depends on other sources of energy.
The Germans can ’ t take the risk, we don ’ t see it.
Germany's nuclear energy policy is all caused by natural gas, on the one hand, the source is cut off, on the other hand, the natural gas shortage caused by the soaring price of fossil fuels.
Fossil fuels account for 46.3% of Germany ’ s electricity generation, and the rise in wholesale electricity prices has been alarming. The German government has revised its nuclear energy policy once again in order to spread the risk of excessive reliance on natural gas.
In Taiwan, fossil fuel power generation accounted for 83.3% in 2021, can the impact on electricity prices be lighter than in Germany?
You can't see that Taiwan Power Company is expected to have a loss of 200 billion yuan this year, and CNOOC is also in the tens of billions!
The government is afraid to adjust the price of electricity and natural gas for fear of affecting the election.
A few days ago, the media reported that the government has compiled a budget to directly eliminate the deficit.
Do they still have the law in their eyes?
If the government respects the results of the 2018 referendum on nuclear and green energy, and four years ago it began to promote the renewal of the licenses of the four nuclear companies to transfer and operate China's power plants, Taiwan will pay a lot less in this wave of soaring fossil fuel prices.
A while ago, the military exercise across the strait, it can be seen that it is rehearsing to block Taiwan, if it is really blocked in the future, our natural gas stocks can stand for a few days! Our government seems to be old in the ground is not proper, still clinging to the god of the non-nuclear homeland, refusing to open their eyes to see the latest international energy trends.
After Germany abandoned its non-nuclear policy, the only countries in the world that have used nuclear energy, only Taiwan has a non-nuclear timetable, China, the United States, France, Japan, South Korea and India, etc., are building or planning new nuclear power plants.
The Taiwanese government should wake up.
Those who pretend to sleep cannot wake up, so let us spit on those who stand in line with those who pretend to sleep!
With the election looming, let ’ s ask the candidates whether they support nuclear power?
If not, ask him to tell you where Taiwan's energy policy should go, how Taiwan meets the requirements of international carbon reduction, what to do when Taiwan is short of power, and who pays when electricity prices surge? (The author is a Distinguished Professor of Engineering and Systems Science, National Tsing Hua University)
※ The above statements do not represent the position of Wangzhong Media Group ※
# Germany # Unit # Electricity # Euro # Nuclear

The country's household electricity price is 80% higher than France's, and the average wholesale price of electricity in Germany was 0.03767 euros/kWh in 2019.

Germany's Energiewende policy aims to increase renewable energy generation and phase out nuclear energy, with a goal of generating 80% of electricity from renewables by 2030.

Title:

Content: This content is not available in your region
Germany closes three nuclear power plants
Comments
Lev Udolsky
Copyright AP Photo / Heribert Proepper
With the end of the year, the phase-out of nuclear energy in Germany is entering a new phase.
On December 31, three nuclear power plants will be disconnected from the grid, including the Brockdorf nuclear power plant, located in the north of the country.
Its construction, begun in the 1980s, already caused a lot of protests.
The management of the company regrets its closure.
“In recent days, the mood has been very sad, ” says Guido Nott, chairman of PreussenElektra.
We have been running this station for 35 years.
We monitored her condition, maintained at the highest technical level and always ensured the safety of her work.
Meanwhile, among opponents of the use of nuclear energy, the closure of the nuclear power plant does not cause any sadness:
“I feel a calm but constant joy that this facility is now closed, ” says Karsten Hinrichsen, an activist.
Some have asked if victory has been won.
I say no, because it took too much time.
The ban on the operation of nuclear power plants in Germany was adopted after the accident at the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima in 2011.
During the vote in the Bundestag, this initiative was supported by 513 out of 600 deputies.
The oldest reactors were shut down immediately, and the shutdown of the remaining nine was decided to proceed in stages.
Following three nuclear power plants located in Bavaria, Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein, which will stop generating electricity this year, the remaining three will be shut down by the end of next year.
At the same time, the work related to the NPP shutdown will continue for several more years, since the dismantling of the stations is a very complex and lengthy procedure.
Meanwhile, the country plans to increasingly switch to renewable energy sources.
It is estimated that by 2030, 80% of electricity will be generated by wind turbines, solar panels or biogas plants.

The country plans to abandon coal by 2030 and aims to be climate neutral by 2045.

Title:

Content: Germany on Friday shut down three of the six nuclear power plants that were still in operation.
Three closed reactors were first put into operation in the mid-1980s, reports AP News.
Together, they provided electricity to millions of German families for nearly four decades.
One of the stations, Brockdorf, is located 40 kilometers northwest of Hamburg on the Elbe River.
It became the center of anti-nuclear protests sparked by the Chernobyl disaster of 1986.
The other two are Gronde, 40 kilometers south of Hanover, and Gundremmingen, 80 kilometers west of Munich.
The German government said this week that the decommissioning of all nuclear power plants next year and the subsequent abandonment of coal by 2030 will not affect the country ’ s energy security or its goal of making Europe ’ s largest economy “climate neutral ” by 2045.
According to the Fraunhofer Institute, renewable energy provided almost 46% of Germany ’ s electricity generation in 2021.
Coal accounted for more than 51% and nuclear energy for more than 13%.
The decision to phase out nuclear power and switch from fossil fuels to renewables was first made by Gerhard Schröder ’ s center-left government in 2002.
His successor, Angela Merkel, has set 2022 as the deadline for the plant ’ s closure.
Earlier, in December 2019, the Philipsburg nuclear power plant, one of the seven nuclear power plants operating at that time, was shut down in Germany.
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Renewable energy provided 46% of electricity in 2021, while nuclear energy accounted for 13% and coal accounted for 51%.

The shutdown of nuclear power plants has sparked criticism due to increased reliance on coal-fired power, with fossil fuels accounting for 46.3% of Germany's electricity generation.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has impacted Germany's energy plans, with the country keeping two nuclear plants on standby until mid-April 2023 as a backup capacity.

Title:

Content: Germany says two nuclear plants will remain on standby until mid-April 2023
World News
Copy Link https: / / www.rt.com / tqy1
Germany said on Monday it would keep two nuclear plants on standby beyond the end of the year in a political shift as a cut in Russian gas supplies threatens Europe with an energy crisis.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a speech that following a new grid stress test, two of the remaining three power plants “will remain available until mid-April 2023 if needed, ” partially delaying a planned nuclear exit under former Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Source: AFP
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This decision is a partial reversal of the nuclear exit plan, which was originally scheduled to be completed by 2022.

Title:

Content: Germany ’ s nuclear power plant will remain on standby until 2023
BERLIN (AFP) - As Russia cuts off natural gas supplies and Europe struggles to find energy sources, Germany today announced a change in its nuclear policy to keep two nuclear plants on standby after a deadline expires at the end of this year.
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Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in a statement that after the stress tests, the authorities decided that two of the last three nuclear plants, originally scheduled to be decommissioned by the end of the year, would remain in operation until April 2023 as backup capacity and could generate electricity if needed.
The move resulted in a partial nuclear exit plan laid out by former Prime Minister Angela Merkel.
But Haberke said Germany remains committed to scrapping its nuclear program and that all nuclear plants will be off the grid by the end of this year.

The German energy market is struggling to cope with the loss of nuclear energy, with the country facing an energy crisis due to reduced Russian gas supplies.

The electricity price in Germany is 160% higher than in 2019, and the country's industrial electricity demand has fallen due to high electricity prices.

Despite the challenges, Germany remains committed to its Energiewende policy and is exploring alternative energy sources, including wind turbines, solar panels, and biogas plants.

The country has also agreed to a Franco-German Energy Partnership, which will supply natural gas and electricity between the two countries.

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Content: Germany extends nuclear power plant operation period | Science and technology | DW | 06.09.2022
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Science and technology environment
Germany to extend nuclear power plant operating period
Federal Economy Minister Mark Halbeck has reacted to a possible energy crisis over the winter.
In an interview with the media, he made it clear that “we must expect the worst ” and therefore considered changing the original timetable for the termination of nuclear power and temporarily retaining two nuclear power plants in southern Germany.
German economy minister orders nuclear power plant not to be shut down
Two of Germany ’ s three remaining nuclear power plants will be used as emergency reserves until the spring of 2023.
Federal Economy Minister Robert Habeck said this when he released the results of the second grid stress test.
The two plants are the Isar 2 and Neckarwetheim nuclear power plants in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg respectively.
Halbeck said it plans to keep the two plants on standby until mid-April 2023 to be integrated into the southern German grid in the winter of 2022 / 23 if necessary.
According to the results of the second grid stress test, "the probability of an hourly crisis in the power system in the winter of 2022 / 23 is small, but cannot be completely ruled out".
"We cannot hope for the best, we must be prepared to deal with the worst," Habek told the media.
At the same time, the Green Party politician stressed that the current coalition government is adhering to the nuclear phase-out legislation: not to extend nuclear power until after the winter, "no new fuel rods will be filled, and the middle of April 2023 is the end of the reserve period."
For months, there has been fierce debate in Germany over whether to extend the operation of the remaining three nuclear power plants due to Russia's reduced supply of natural gas and sharply rising energy prices.
According to the original timetable for the termination of nuclear power, the Isar 2 in Lower Bavaria, the Emsland nuclear power plant in Niedersachsen and the Neckaveheim 2 in Bavaria should be irrevocably decommissioned by the end of this year.
Nekwestheim nuclear power plant near Heilbronn planned to remain in place until April 2023
Franco-German Energy Partnership
In the face of the current energy crisis, Paris and Berlin recently reached a mutual aid agreement.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced after a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Gerhard Scholz that France could supply Germany with natural gas in exchange for supplying electricity to France if necessary.
"Germany needs our gas, and we need electricity from the rest of Europe, especially Germany," he said.
For some time, a wave of overhauling and over-maintenance of nuclear power plants has led to a reduction in French electricity production and a rise in prices.
In addition, this summer's heat forced the plants, which rely on river water to cool down, to reduce production so as not to cause water temperatures to rise further.
It is not only the opposition CDU / CSU, but also the LDP, which is part of the coalition government, has also called for an extension of the operation period of the nuclear power plant.
On Monday (September 5), the party's chairman and current federal finance minister Lindner called for the three remaining nuclear power plants to be allowed to continue operating.
"At this time, all possible means should be used to reduce electricity prices for people and businesses," he told Süddeutsche Zeitung.
For most Greens, the rejection of nuclear power is a core political tenet they have long upheld.
(DPA, Reuters)
© 2022 Deutsche Welle Copyright Notice: All content in this article is protected by copyright law and may not be used without special permission from Deutsche Welle.
Any misconduct will lead to recovery and criminal prosecution.
DW.COM

There is no indication that sectors of the German population are pushing to bring nuclear reactors back online, with the focus instead on increasing renewable energy generation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

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TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY HOLDINGS, INC.

(9501)
  Report
Delayed Japan Exchange  -  12:01:00 2023-04-17 am EDT
490.00 JPY   -1.41%
04/16Greenway Grid Global Pte. Ltd. & Tepco Power Grid, Inc. : the Sale of "Electric Power Asset NFT (Transmission Tower NFT Card, Utility Pole NFT Card)"
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04/16Germany's last nuclear reactors shut down - But the debate remains
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04/16Historic nuclear phase-out completed - but problems not yet solved
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SummaryMost relevantAll NewsAnalyst Reco.Other languagesPress ReleasesOfficial PublicationsSector newsMarketScreener Strategies

Greenway Grid Global Pte. Ltd. & TEPCO Power Grid, Inc.: the Sale of "Electric Power Asset NFT (Transmission Tower NFT Card, Utility Pole NFT Card)"

04/16/2023 | 10:31pm EDT

~ Venturing into the world of WEB 3.0 ~

Greenway Grid Global Pte. Ltd. (Headquarters: Singapore, President: Kazuhiko Shiba; hereinafter referred to as, "GGG") and Tokyo Electric Power Grid Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President/CEO: Yoshinori Kaneko; hereinafter referred as, "TEPCO PG") are pleased to announce the sale of "Electric Power Asset NFT" on their websites starting on Monday, April 3, 2023. The NFTs are pictures of TEPCO PG power assets, such as transmission towers and utility poles, that have been digitalized using NFT technology*1.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005884/en/

Utility pole NFT card (Numa 218) (Graphic: Business Wire)

The global NFT market is said to be worth trillions yen, and the domestic market is expected to grow from several tens of billions yen to hundreds of billions yen by 2030.

GGG sees this as an opportunity to embrace the expanding Web3.0*2 trend and produce and sell "Electric Power Asset NFT (Transmission Tower NFT Cards, Utility Pole NFT Cards)" that are based on TEPCO PG's "Transmission Tower Card", which has been primarily used for recruitment purposes. Furthermore, we plan to collaborate with DEA*3, which has experience with, and WEB3.0 technical prowess that it has cultivated through, NFT gaming and the NFT market, in order to explore new ways to add value beyond mere ownership of the "Electric Power Asset NFT."*4

In producing the electric power asset NFT, TEPCO PG provides photos of facilities that harmonize with the scenery and the stories of each asset from among the electric power assets that TEPCO PG owns, which stretch from the cities to the mountains, thereby conveying the appeal of its electric power assets and supporting recruitment and other activities throughout the power industry.

*1 Non-Fungible Token (NFT). NFT uses blockchain technology to create unique digital assets.
*2 WEB3.0 is an "economy that creates, holds, and exchanges value using tokens, such as cryptocurrency, on the blockchain". Source: Web3.0 (METI/Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
*3 DEA (Digital Entertainment Asset Pte. Ltd.). Since its launch on 26th May 2020, the NFT game platform "PlayMining" has gained over 2.7 million users in over 100 countries. DEAPcoin is Japan's first Play-to-Earn token, and "PlayMining" is the world's first Play-to-Earn token economy, leading the world's GameFi field.
*4 Signing of a MOU with Digital Entertainment Asset Pte. Ltd. for consideration of a Sustainable Social Contribution Game Utilizing “Electric Power Asset NFT”
https://www.greenwaygrid.global/signing_of_mou_with_dea/

Please see the below attachment for an overview of “Electric Power Asset NFT (Transmission Tower and Utility Pole NFT Cards)” and the method of sale.

Overview and method of sale of
“Electric Power asset NFT (Transmission Tower and Utility Pole NFT cards)”

1. Card type and price

(Transmission Tower NFT card)

  • S rank (1 type x 5 sheets): 100,000 yen/1 sheet (tax included)
  • A rank (2 types x 10 sheets): 30,000 yen/1 sheet (tax included)
  • B rank (2 types x 10 sheets): 10,000 yen/1 sheet (tax included)
  • C rank (5 types x 20 sheets): 3,000 yen/1 sheet (tax included)

(Utility pole NFT card)

  • S rank (1 type x 5 sheets): 100,000 yen/1 sheet (tax included)
  • A rank (2 types x 10 sheets): 30,000 yen/1 sheet (tax included)
  • B rank (2 types x 10 sheets): 10,000 yen/1 sheet (tax included)
  • C rank (5 types x 20 sheets): 3,000 yen/1 sheet (tax included)

2. Sales Volume

10 types of Transmission Tower NFT card, 10 types of Utility pole NFT card, 290 sheets in total

3. Sales period

April 3 to 30, 2023
*Sales start at 9:00 (JST) on April 3 (Monday)

4. Sales

Sold at the following internet site
https://nft.hexanft.com/en/users/g1mRrrU3HXQTDP?collection=%E3%80%90%E9%9B%BB%E6%9F%B1%E3%80%91%E3%83%A9%E3%83%B3%E3%82%AFS

5. Benefits

If you purchase one or more NFT from each rank (S to C), you will receive a “Premium Electric Power Asset NFT”. (See the URL above for details)

6. Production Involvement

Production: Greenway Grid Global. Pte. Ltd.
Sponsored by: Transmission Line Construction Technology Study Group
Photo: TEPCO Power Grid, Inc.
Supported by: Digital Entertainment Asset Pte. Ltd

© Business Wire 2023
All news about TOKYO ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY HOLDINGS, INC.
04/16Greenway Grid Global Pte. Ltd. & Tep : the Sale of "Electric Power Asset NFT (Transmission..
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Net income 2023 -115 300 M -862 M -862 M
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Capitalization 796 B 5 956 M 5 956 M
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However, some experts argue that the rejection of nuclear energy can be fatal for Germany's economy, and that the country may struggle with energy production without nuclear power.

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Content: News iz
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The political scientist called a mistake the refusal of Germany from nuclear energy
Adherence to the ideas of the green revolution and the rejection of nuclear energy can play a fatal role for the German economy, says political scientist Alexander Rahr.
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The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) president has advised Germany to reconsider its nuclear phase-out, stating that nuclear energy is climate-friendly and necessary for affordable energy prices.

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Content: WMO president advises Germany to reconsider abandoning nuclear power - Sunrise Gate
Saturday 25 November 2023 4: 01 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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World Meteorological Organization chief advises Germany to reconsider abandoning nuclear power
Geneva - DPA
Published on: Saturday 25 November 2023 - 2: 04 PM | Last updated on Saturday 25 November 2023 - 2: 04 PM
The head of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Petrie Taalas, has advised Germany to reconsider abandoning nuclear power.
This comes shortly before the United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) is held in Dubai.
“Nuclear energy is a good technology for producing climate-friendly energy, ” Taalas told the German news agency DPA in Geneva, adding that achieving the abandonment of coal while maintaining the production of enough energy at affordable prices would be difficult without nuclear power, and“ I would like to call on the German government to reconsider abandoning nuclear power. ”
It is noteworthy that the World Climate Council, which studies and describes the climate situation scientifically under the supervision of the organization "WMO", promotes in its reports the use of all non-fossil energy sources, including nuclear energy, in order to reduce greenhouse gases.
In a classification decree, the European Commission included electricity generated from nuclear energy among green energy sources.
The annual United Nations Climate Conference (COP28) will begin in Dubai on November 30.
Taalas said he hoped participating countries would announce tough climate protection measures to limit global warming as much as possible to 1.5 degrees above its pre-industrial level.
"If Germany is determined to continue at the same energy consumption or produce more, for example, for electric mobility, it will be difficult to do all this with solar and wind power," Taalas said, noting that Germany will have to choose between buying power from France, for example, where part of the electricity is generated from nuclear power plants, or exposing its economy to the consequences of power shortages.
“If energy costs (in Germany) become too high compared to other countries, there can be nothing to attract some industrial sectors to stay in Germany. ”
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The European Commission classifies nuclear energy as a green energy source, and the WMO promotes non-fossil energy sources, including nuclear energy, to reduce greenhouse gases.

Germany's energy transition policy has led to a significant increase in renewable energy generation, with wind and photovoltaics accounting for nearly half of Germany's installed capacity, but only 28% of generation.

The country aims to be carbon neutral by 2045 and has set a target of 80% of power output to come from wind and solar energy by 2030.

Title:

Content: 11 Feb, 2024 13:59

German industry ‘moving abroad’ – Bild

A growing number of manufacturers are relocating operations outside the country, an industry lobby warns

One in three German manufacturers is considering moving production to other countries amid economic troubles, double the number recorded in 2022, Bild news outlet reported on Saturday, citing Siegfried Russwurm, the head of the Federation of German Industries (BDI).

According to the report, among the latest firms planning to relocate is household appliance manufacturer Miele, which plans to cut 2,000 jobs in Germany and move 700 positions to its site in Poland. Heating manufacturer Viessmann had already moved 3,000 jobs to Poland.

Volkswagen said last year that it would build a new battery factory in the US, and BASF announced plans to invest €10 billion in a petrochemicals plant in China amid job cuts at its headquarters in Germany. French steel pipe manufacturer Vallourec shut down production in Germany in September last year, while tiremaker Michelin and its US rival Goodyear said they would also close their German plants by the end of 2025.

Russwurm says that a growing number of companies have reported that their “patience with Germany is at an end.” According to him, the slowdown in economic growth and high rates of inflation, especially with regard to energy, have resulted in less investment, and Berlin lacks a strategy to turn the situation around. This in turn leads to a gradual decline in manufacturing, he said, and while existing production lines may continue to operate for a while, “new ones are no longer being built in Germany.”

Many companies point to the high energy prices, which soared after Germany lost access to Russian natural gas in 2022, as one of the major causes of their problems. This was exacerbated by Berlin’s decision to phase out nuclear energy and coal and switch to renewables, which, according to Russwurm, put manufacturers working in Germany at a significant disadvantage compared to other industrialized nations.

“Nobody can say with any certainty today what our energy supply will look like in seven years’ time, and that’s why no one can say how high energy prices will be in Germany then. For companies that have to make investment decisions, that is absolutely toxic,” he said in an interview with the Financial Times earlier this week, adding that the government is making mistakes regarding its energy policy with its ambitious climate agenda, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045 and switch 80% of power output to wind and solar energy by 2030.

“Companies are saying they are finding it increasingly difficult to do any long-term planning. They have great doubts about continuing to invest in Germany under these conditions. The conditions are better elsewhere. And they’re going abroad,” Russwurm said.

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Overall, Germany's nuclear phase-out has significant implications for the country's industrial competitiveness, and the government must balance the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the need to maintain a stable and competitive economy.

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Content: Home / News / World /  Germany quits nuclear power; shuts final 3 plants
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Germany has shut its final three nuclear plants, marking the end of the country's end of nuclear era that has spanned more than 60 years.

Nuclear power has long been contentious in Germany.

The move has come as Germany's eyes achieve its green goal. Steffi Lemke, Germany’s Federal Minister for the Environment and Consumer Protection and a Green Party member, "The position of the German government is clear: nuclear power is not green. Nor is it sustainable".

Closure of three nuclear plant's history:

Germany shut three plants-- Emsland, Isar 2, and Neckarwestheim, representing the culmination of a plan set in motion more than 20 years ago.

During the 1970s, a strong anti-nuclear movement emerged in Germany. The movement gave birth to the green party, which is now part of governing coalition.

However, it was in the 2000s the German government pledged to phase out nuclear power and start shutting down plants.

But in 2009, a new government came to power and it seemed brief as if nuclear would get a reprieve as a bridging technology to help the country move to renewable energy.

Then Fukushima happened. In 2011, an earthquake and tsunami caused three reactors of the Fukushima Daiichi power plant to melt down.

Three days later then-Chancellor Angela Merkel who was previously pro-nuclear, announced Germany would accelerate a nuclear phase-out, with older plants shuttered immediately.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine provided another plot twist.

Germany isn’t the only country committed to walking away from nuclear — Italy gave up the technology in 1990, and Lithuania recently struck a deal to dismantle its Soviet-era reactors, which have sat idle for over a decade. But in many advanced economies, nuclear is experiencing a resurgence.

On Sunday, Finland will start regular power production at Europe’s newest and biggest reactor. The 1,600-megawatt Olkiluoto-3 unit that faced years of delays had been planned to enter commercial production on Monday. France is planning to build at least six new reactors by 2050 as well as experiment with smaller, modular ones. The UK has similar ambitions. And even in Japan, after a decade of paralysis following the nuclear accident in Fukushima, the public is warming up to the use of nuclear power. The Japanese government wants to restart reactors that have sat idle since the disaster and to extend the lifespan of existing units.

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Content: Germany ’ s transport minister has called for the creation of an expert committee to examine whether the country ’ s nuclear power plants should be extended.
The move also sparked disagreements within the ruling coalition over nuclear power.
Since Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine, Germany has tried to break away from its energy dependence and sparked discussions about the use of the country ’ s only three remaining nuclear power plants.
After the 311 earthquake in Japan, the Merkel government appealed for non-nuclear homes, which were scheduled to be completely decommissioned by the end of 2022.
Prime Minister Olaf Scholz of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) has tried to pressure the dispute between the ruling Green Party and the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP).
The Greens have been pressing for a withdrawal from nuclear power, but the transport minister of the Liberal Democratic Party (FDP) has called for an extension of the plant ’ s life until at least April.
Transport Minister Volker Wissing said electric vehicles are not environmentally friendly unless they use zero-carbon nuclear power.
“We need an expert answer on how to ensure that we achieve our climate protection goals while having a stable and affordable energy supply, ” the minister said.
Critics of Germany ’ s withdrawal from nuclear power say it could force Germany to rely more on coal than expected during its transition to renewable energy.
Coal is more carbon polluting than natural gas.
The Green Party is strongly opposed to the resumption of Germany's nuclear power program, arguing that extending the use of nuclear power would be costly and that more could be achieved by developing renewable energy.
# Nuclear Power # Germany # Minister of Transport # Extension # Nuclear Power Plant

The Russian-Ukrainian war has affected Germany's energy plans, and the country is now more reliant on polluting coal and natural gas in the short term.

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Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
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Mohamad Elbaz
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
EXPRESS: Germany ’ s exit from atomic energy sector affects Europe ’ s largest economy
Germany ’ s closure of the country ’ s last three nuclear reactors and its eventual exit from the atomic energy sector raises concerns about the impact of the decision on the European Union ’ s largest economy.
Germany ’ s action could deal a blow to the technology they see as a clean and reliable alternative to fossil fuels.
Berlin is implementing its plan to limit electricity generation to renewable sources by 2035.
Earlier this week, Germany shut down its last three nuclear power plants as part of Berlin's plan to limit power generation to renewables by 2035, ending a six-decade programme that has sparked one of Europe's most powerful protest movements.
Other industrialized countries, such as the United States, Japan, China, France and Britain, rely on nuclear power to replace the fossil fuels that are warming the planet, and Germany ’ s decision to stop using both has been met with some skepticism, as well as unsuccessful last-minute calls to halt the shutdown, the report said.
Nuclear energy advocates around the world have criticized the German shutdown, realizing that the action taken by Europe ’ s largest economy could deal a blow to technology they see as a clean and reliable alternative to fossil fuels.
The German government has acknowledged that in the short term, the country will have to rely more on polluting coal and natural gas to meet its energy needs, even as steps are taken to dramatically increase electricity production from solar and wind power, and Germany aims to be carbon neutral by 2045.
But officials like German Environment Minister Stevie Lemke say the idea of a nuclear renaissance is a myth, citing data showing that the share of atomic energy in global electricity production is shrinking.
The construction of new nuclear plants in Europe has faced significant delays and cost overruns.
Limki noted that the construction of new nuclear plants in Europe has faced significant delays and cost overruns, and said the money spent on maintaining old reactors or building new ones would be better spent on installing cheap renewables.
Experts such as Claudia Kemfert of the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin say the 5% share of German electricity currently coming from its three remaining reactors can be easily replaced without risking power outages.

Germany's energy security will not be affected by the decommissioning of nuclear power plants, according to the government, but the country may face power shortages without nuclear energy, according to the WMO chief.

The country's industrial electricity demand has fallen due to high electricity prices, and German chemical and fertilizer production has fallen to its lowest level in over a decade.

Germany's move away from nuclear energy has presented significant challenges, but the country is committed to finding alternative energy solutions and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.

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Content: Thursday, 05 October 2023 12: 25 GMT
Europe seeks independence from fossil fuels at a cost of $2.1 trillion by 2040
(MENAFN) New research shows that Europe may be able to completely eliminate its dependence on fossil fuels and build a self-sustainable energy field by investing close to €2 trillion (about $2.1 trillion) in renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and others by 2040.
The research, carried out by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, suggests that an annual investment of around €140 billion will be needed until 2030, followed by an annual investment of around €100 billion in the following decade to achieve this ambitious goal.
The bulk of these investments are expected to be directed towards expanding onshore wind farms, but other energy sources such as solar, hydrogen and geothermal power will play a key role in generating electricity from exclusively renewable sources starting in 2030.
This transition to renewable energy will require a comprehensive transformation of the energy system, including replacing existing energy sources such as black gold and gas in providing heat with renewable energy sources.
These massive investments are essential for the transition to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly energy system and reduced reliance on fossil fuels, as part of global efforts to combat climate change.
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The country is exploring a range of low-carbon technologies, including green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, to address energy supply gaps and price volatility.

Title:

Content: Green hydrogen
Germany and the European Union have made progress in their hydrogen talks.
Europe – Germany ’ s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck, said recent progress has been made in talks with the European Commission on hydrogen subsidies.
But the European Commission has not yet approved these subsidies, the EU said, and the aim of the talks is to develop "safeguards (...) to comply with European legislation on national and energy assistance".
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Hydrogen energy is a dual role of clean and efficient energy storage carriers. By converting wind, solar and nuclear energy into hydrogen energy, renewable energy can be stored and transported on a large scale across seasons, becoming the best overall solution in the current new energy field.
Hydrogen energy storage solution is the ideal interconnection medium to promote the clean and efficient use of traditional fossil energy and support the large-scale development of renewable energy. It is the best choice for large-scale deep decarbonization in transportation, industry and construction.
Germany has the second largest installed offshore wind power capacity in the world (7.7 GW in Germany at the end of 2019) and aims to install 15 to 20 GW of offshore wind by 2030.
Germany is phasing out nuclear power by 2022 and coal-fired power by 2038, and is committed to the development of renewable energy, striving to increase the proportion of renewable energy in Germany's power generation structure to 65% by 2030.
Since the implementation of the nuclear policy, Germany's nuclear technology and nuclear industry have declined, and Germany has bet its future on the green hydrogen industry.
As with the development of renewable energy and the gradual realization of electrification, green hydrogen is a key component of the complete realization of a zero-carbon energy system.
Because in many transportation fields, such as aviation, shipping and heavy vehicles, it is not possible to directly use electricity for fuel substitution; some industrial processes also cannot directly use electricity, requiring hydrogen as a fuel raw material or for high-temperature operations.
Improving energy efficiency and developing renewable energy are prerequisites for this transformation process.
Since renewable energy already provides most of Germany ’ s electricity, and Germany has made progress in the electrification of transportation and industry, renewable electricity hydrogen production is the next logical step in achieving carbon neutrality. Given these conditions, green hydrogen provides further avenues of understanding for the transportation, storage and trading of renewable electricity; it allows the region ’ s renewable energy potential to be released and utilized on a global scale.
Der Spiegel reported in July that Germany wants subsidies for future power plants to be integrated into the EU ’ s decarbonisation plan, which would ensure faster approvals and more financial aid.
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Germany's energy market is coping with the loss of nuclear energy by investing in renewable energy sources and promoting energy efficiency, with the government seeking to reduce gas consumption by 20% to avoid a shortfall.

Title:

Content: Germany To Postpone Closure Of Last Three Nuclear Power Plants - WSJ

(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th August, 2022) Germany, faced with possible energy shortages in the winter as gas supplies from Russia have dropped, intends to postpone the closure of its last three nuclear power plants (NPPs) in a move marking a departure from a two-decade policy to abandon nuclear energy, The Wall Street Journal reported citing German government officials.

The decision, which has to be formally adopted by the cabinet of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and would possibly require a vote in Parliament, could be weeks off, but already now the German government says two key conditions have been met that allow a temporary extension of the life of the three remaining NPPs, currently expected to close December 31: the possibility of a gas shortage and the confidence that a longer operation of reactors would pose no safety concern, according to the officials.

"The reactors are safe until Dec. 31, and obviously they will remain safe also after Dec. 31," the WSJ quoted a senior official as saying.

Scholz last week said for the first time that it could make sense to keep Germany's last three nuclear reactors online.

However, even if the life of the three German NPPs is extended, this will not be a panacea for Germany's looming energy crisis this winter as the country is mainly missing natural gas, primarily used for heating and manufacturing.

The European Union has been seeking to diversify energy imports and reduce dependence on Russia after Moscow started its special military operation in Ukraine.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly said that Russia has never used gas supplies to punish anyone, but sells energy solely in its own interests, to increase the welfare of Russians and on a commercial basis.

The German government has also outlined measures to reduce gas and power consumption in the country over the next two years. The measures in particular include lowering the temperature in public buildings. According to Germany's energy regulator, gas consumption will have to be cut by 20 percent if Germany wants to avoid a gas shortfall during this coming winter and next winter.

The three officials who spoke to the WSJ said the extension of the NPPs' life would only be made for several months.

The power plants in question are Isar 2 in the southern state of Bavaria, Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Wurttemberg and Emsland in Lower Saxony. They are operated, respectively, by E.On SE, EnBW AG, and RWE AG.

After the start of Russia's special military operation to denazify and demilitarize Ukraine, the West has stepped up sanctions pressure on Russia, which has led to an increase in prices for energy and food in Europe and the United States.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused a shift in German energy policy, with the country relying heavily on Russian gas supplies and facing a potential energy crisis.

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Content: Germany ’ s last three nuclear power plants may be delayed
In light of the potential energy crisis in Europe in the winter, officials revealed that Germany intends to delay the decommissioning of the last three nuclear plants in the country, although it will only temporarily prolong the life of the plants, but it marks the first time that Germany has deviated from the energy policy introduced in the millennium and has so far been enshrined by almost all parties.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) quoted senior officials as saying that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has not yet formally adopted the proposal to delay the discharge, and if it is decided to do so, there are technical and legal issues, including passing through parliament.
The cabinet is currently discussing some details, and while it will have to wait for the results of the energy demand assessment in the coming weeks to come to a conclusion, officials have revealed that everything is almost a foregone conclusion.
The last three nuclear plants in Germany were due to be decommissioned on December 31, and the government reportedly believes that a temporary delay would require two conditions: Germany is likely to suffer from a natural gas shortage and there are no safety concerns about keeping nuclear reactors in operation.
The shift in German policy underscores the shock of Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine to European political circles, especially Germany, which has been closely tied to Russia ’ s economy and has long relied on Russian gas supplies.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he began to increase military spending, send weapons to Ukraine, break years of pacifism, supply arms to conflict zones, the latest energy policy shift, and involve the almost sacred issue of “nuclear abolition ” in German politics.
The German economy ministry, which dominates energy policy, declined to comment on the report, saying only that it all depends on the outcome of an assessment of Germany ’ s energy needs.
The remaining three nuclear power plants account for about 6% of Germany's electricity generation, and if they continue to supply power, they will not have to use natural gas or coal-fired power to fill the gap, allowing some areas to continue to have natural gas.
In some parts of Germany, huge coal-fired power plants have resumed operations in response to a potential power outage from a Russian supply cut in June, disrupting Germany ’ s progress so far in reducing carbon and fighting air pollution.
The German government has drawn up two executive orders on how to reduce natural gas and energy consumption over the next two years.
Energy authorities estimate that Germany will need to reduce its use of natural gas by 20% in order to avoid a shortage of natural gas this winter and next.
It is unclear when the German authorities may extend the discharge period, with some officials offering a few months, but the ruling Liberal Democrats believe it should be extended to 2024.
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Overall, Germany's move away from nuclear energy is part of its broader strategy to become carbon neutral, with the country exploring various low-carbon technologies to address potential energy supply gaps and price volatility.