Germany plans to shut down all nuclear plants, a decision made after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

The country's nuclear program was altered after the Fukushima disaster, and the nuclear phaseout plan was initiated over 20 years ago.

Germany's energy crisis, worsened by the Russian-Ukrainian war, has led to a reconsideration of nuclear power, with 64% of Germans supporting restarting nuclear power to boost supply and cut prices.

61% of Germans and 40% of Green Party voters support extending or restarting nuclear power, which can cut Germany's carbon emissions by 25-30 million tons annually.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has significantly impacted Germany's energy supply, with the country relying heavily on natural gas, and the Nord Stream 1 closure may paralyze its domestic heavy industry and winter demand.

Germany gets half its gas from Russia, and reducing Russian gas supply would send Germany's economy into recession, as it relies heavily on the gas.

Reversing nuclear plant shutdowns could reduce Germany's reliance on Russian energy, and the country is switching to other energy sources amid supply concerns.

Nuclear power accounted for 6 percent of Germany's total electricity generation before shutdown, and the country aims to replace lost nuclear energy with renewable sources like solar and wind power.

The extension of the nuclear plants' life by several months is not expected to solve Germany's looming energy crisis, but the country may temporarily extend nuclear plant life to address the energy crisis, pending cabinet and parliamentary approval.

Some Germans are focusing on renewable energy to achieve climate goals rather than restarting nuclear reactors, and the country is expanding renewable energy production.

However, a German environmental NGO opposes extending nuclear plant durations, and the German government remains committed to its nuclear phase-out plan.

Germany plans to shut down all nuclear plants, a decision made after the 2011 Fukushima disaster.

Title:

Content: According to EurActiv on July 20, in response to the gas shortage, the EU Commission has proposed a natural gas conservation plan, which will be careful to avoid blaming any EU country when it comes to delaying the “phase-out ” of nuclear power plants, a particularly sensitive issue for Germany.
Germany ’ s nuclear program was first planned in the early 2000s, when the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Green Party coalition decided to phase out nuclear power.
Japan ’ s 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster led then-pro-nuclear Prime Minister Angela Merkel, who was pushing for the withdrawal of plans to phase out nuclear power, to end nuclear power under pressure and plan to shut down all nuclear plants by 2022.
However, in early July, Thierry Breton, the European Union ’ s executive member for internal markets, said bluntly: “It ’ s important that the three German nuclear plants still in operation continue to operate for a while. ” Energy comes with a problem.
Even Elon Musk, CEO of US electric car maker Tesla, tweeted: “They should keep running. ”
“If the government wants, we can keep the NPP Isar 2 nuclear power plant running longer than the end of the year, ” says plant operator Preussen Electra. In addition, previous reports by safety certification body TÜV Süd indicate that the plant ’ s continued operation does not pose a safety risk.
A poll of Germans conducted by ARD on 24 June showed that 61% of Germans would support the extension of nuclear power plant operations.
But Sascha Müller-Kraenner, director of the German environmental NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), said in a statement on July 19.
“If the duration of the nuclear power plant exceeds December 31, 2022, we will prevent this from happening through the courts if necessary. ”
Under pressure: the push to keep German nuclear plants running
# Germany # Nuclear Power Plant # Nuclear Waste # Denuclearization # Natural Gas

The country's nuclear program was altered after the Fukushima disaster, and the nuclear phaseout plan was initiated over 20 years ago.

Title:

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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Germany's energy crisis, worsened by the Russian-Ukrainian war, has led to a reconsideration of nuclear power, with 64% of Germans supporting restarting nuclear power to boost supply and cut prices.

Title:

Content: World Vision: Restarting nuclear power, dragging the German government into crisis
November 06, 2022 00: 03
Eastern Network Television
More News Clips
With Germany following the NATO sanctions against Russia, the German energy crisis is deepening and leading to serious political instability.
The gold-painted sign “Made in Germany ” has been peeled off. First, the business community complained about the high price of electricity in Germany, averaging 0.37 euros per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared with 0.18 euros in France, 0.24 euros in the United Kingdom and 0.10 euros in Hungary.
Even if the German government proposed energy subsidies, but other European governments such as Britain and France will do so, German companies still can not compete. The result is that more and more industrial products that Germany was proud of in the past, either set up factories in foreign countries or import some foreign parts to complete in Germany.
In addition, some townships began to have problems with the opening up and strengthening of thermal power generation and transmission, and now there are rare power outages, which have caused great dissatisfaction among the public.
The Minister of Economy and Deputy Prime Minister Hajbek have become the target of attacks by the industrial sector, the German opposition, and the Liberal and Social Democrats in the government, focusing on Habek, who has no economic expertise but is responsible for the environmental ideology, and the government ’ s lack of understanding and compassion for industry, and has been deceiving the three nuclear power plants.
Halbek has always stressed that the German people have long been the majority of anti-nuclear power, but the latest poll shows that 64% of the people support restarting nuclear power to increase supply and reduce electricity prices due to the energy crisis, with 40% of the Green Party voters.
In addition, the Green Party has spoken out in favor of improving climate change, but has been hiding experts ’ suggestions that turning on nuclear power could cut Germany ’ s carbon emissions by 25 million to 30 million tons a year.
In addition, Halbek stressed that the nuclear fuel rods needed for the nuclear power plant may not be available by early next year, but the expert opinion is that the old nuclear fuel rods can also be used and the nuclear power plant can be gradually opened.
Halbek stressed that it would take a long time to open the safety inspection of nuclear power, but the world-famous German Technical Supervision Association immediately hit the face, claiming that they did a comprehensive inspection in March, all three nuclear power plants are normal, as long as limited further testing and monitoring, restart is not a problem at all.
The opposition party also criticized the three-party coalition government for delaying the setting of a gas price cap until March next year. At that time, the weather in Germany has begun to warm up. As a result, the opposition party and the public demand that Habaker resign, which can be regarded as the ruling coalition's biggest crisis to date.
Ph.D., Freie Universität Berlin

Title:

Content: People 's Network > > International
German Chancellor calls for extension of three nuclear power plants
October 19, 2022 09: 58 | Source: Xinhua Network
Small number
BEIJING, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked the relevant authorities to develop a legal framework to allow all three remaining nuclear power plants in Germany to operate until mid-April next year.
Schorz made the decision public in a letter to the cabinet, the German Chancellor's office said.
"I request that the relevant proposed regulations be submitted to the Cabinet as soon as possible," the letter read.
According to the German government's plan, the three remaining nuclear power plants in Germany are scheduled to go offline by the end of this year.
However, due to the drastic reduction of natural gas supplies from Russia and the sharp decline in electricity exports from neighboring France to Germany, Germany has had to adjust its energy mix.
Falling gas supplies and soaring prices have led to fears of heating and energy shortages in Germany this winter, and domestic calls for continued use of nuclear power have soared.
On July 6, German Chancellor Gerhard Scholz (front right) received a routine inquiry at the German Federal Parliament in Berlin.
Photo by Xinhua reporter Ren Pengfei
In the first quarter of this year, the three nuclear power plants accounted for about 6 percent of Germany's total electricity generation.
The ruling coalition of the Social Democratic Party, the Green Party and the Liberal Democratic Party has been divided over the suspension of the nuclear power withdrawal plan.
German Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Climate Protection Robert Haberk announced at the end of September that the “Isar 2 ” nuclear power plant in Bavaria and the Neka Westerheim nuclear power plant north of Stuttgart will be in“ standby mode ” until mid-April next year.
In the event of a power shortage, the two nuclear power plants will be reactivated.
The Associated Press quoted German officials as saying at the time that the Amslan nuclear power plant in Lower Saxony would be shut down by the end of the year.
German Finance Minister Christian Lindner welcomed Scholz ’ s latest decision to extend the operating hours of the three nuclear power plants, saying a legal framework could be set up immediately.
This is a thermal power plant on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany, photographed on September 8.
Xinhua News Agency (photo by Stefan Caiz)
"It is in the vital interest of our country and our economy that we maintain all our energy production capacity this winter," Lindner wrote on social media.
Steffi Lemke, Germany ’ s minister for environment, nature protection, nuclear safety and consumer protection, said the latest decision was clearer and reiterated the continued phasing out of nuclear power, meaning there will be no further extension of the life of nuclear power plants after mid-April next year.
Since the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis, the European Union and the United States have imposed several rounds of sanctions on Russia, but the reaction of the sanctions has plunged Europe into an energy crisis.
Germany and other European countries that are highly dependent on Russian energy, on the one hand, introduced measures to save energy, and on the other hand, looked for alternative energy sources. (Liu Xi)
(Editor: Liu Ye Ting, Liu Jieyan)
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61% of Germans and 40% of Green Party voters support extending or restarting nuclear power, which can cut Germany's carbon emissions by 25-30 million tons annually.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has significantly impacted Germany's energy supply, with the country relying heavily on natural gas, and the Nord Stream 1 closure may paralyze its domestic heavy industry and winter demand.

Title:

Content: World Vision: Europe 's lack of energy, no operation, aid to Ukraine may become empty talk
July 15, 2022 00: 04
Eastern Network Television
More News Clips
After the Russian army claimed to occupy the Luhansk Oblast in Ukraine, the attack slowed down, and the Kiev government began a public debate.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Leonid Leznikov said that President Zelensky has ordered the assembly of millions of troops equipped with Western weapons, which will soon recover the southern territory from Russia, and called on the West to continue to "water" aid.
On the other hand, Europe continues to emerge as the negative impact of the full range of sanctions imposed by the United States on Russia continues to emerge, and many are mired in the energy crisis, and inflation has caused everything to become expensive, causing the resentment of the European people to rise to a boiling point.
As energy prices continue to be high, Russia will temporarily suspend the supply of natural gas to Germany for 10 days on the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
Previously, Canada refused to return the Nord Stream 1 gas turbine sent by the Siemens subsidiary to Russia on the grounds of sanctions, which caused the latter to sharply reduce natural gas supply.
Germany is worried that if Nord Stream 1 continues to close after the annual review, it will paralyze domestic heavy industry and insufficient natural gas reserves to meet winter demand.
Despite Zelensky's objections, the Germans continued to head hard to retrieve parts of the Nord Stream pipeline from Canada.
European countries obviously did not expect that the Russian-Ukrainian war would cause such a big problem for energy supply.
Under the severe shortage of natural gas supply, Germany relies on natural gas production industry can only struggle to survive, and some are even more lifeless.
The Netherlands, which plans to stop importing Russian natural gas this year, in addition to the road blockage demonstrations caused by domestic farmers due to the emission reduction plan, and recently fell into an unprecedented energy crisis due to Germany's intention to completely shut down the nuclear power plant, can only beg Berlin to extend the operation of the nuclear power unit.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, most of the European people supported the government's punitive measures against Russia.
But the theory is very full, the reality is very bones, with the protracted war, coupled with soaring prices and soaring inflation, Europeans are gradually disgusted with the Russian-Ukrainian war, and some people are dissatisfied with the government's sacrifice of their own interests and blindly follow US policy.
According to a survey by financial bloggers, 59% of Europeans say they are unwilling to pay the price for defending democracy in Ukraine.
In Hamburg, Germany, the local government housed Ukrainian refugees in luxury apartments in the city center, at a cost of €3,600 per month per apartment, paid by the government.
Some reporters teased that this building, more than 100 meters high, is becoming the grave of the German taxpayer.
The Scottish government has suspended the intake of Ugandan refugees for three months due to a lack of suitable housing.
From the country and even the people, Europe is gradually tired of the Russian-Ukrainian war, and the Kiev government may only hope that the United States will do more and better in the future.

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.

Germany gets half its gas from Russia, and reducing Russian gas supply would send Germany's economy into recession, as it relies heavily on the gas.

Title:

Content: Dangerous Dependence: German and Russian Gas | Economic Horizontal | DW | 27.01.2022
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Economic stratification
Dangerous Dependence: German and Russian Gas
Germany is in a difficult position in the current crisis in Ukraine, after all, half of Germany ’ s gas is purchased from Russia.
And this dependence has been a long time coming, and it is not easy to get rid of it.
12 years ago, the Nord Stream 1 pipeline started.
“The crisis in Ukraine has led to a marked deterioration in relations between Russia and the West, ” Matthias Basedau and Kim Schultze ’ s study begins.
The study, "Dependence on Energy Imports: Risks for Germany and Europe?," states that Germany and Europe depend to a considerable extent on energy imports from Russia.
This involves, first and foremost, natural gas, crude oil and coal. In light of deteriorating relations with Russia, the alarm is growing that the Russian government may use the supply stoppage as a political weapon.
Notably, the paper is a 2014 study written by the Leibniz Institute for Global and Regional Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg.
Knowing the danger, but relying more and more on it.
Geopolitical analysis is still relevant today.
In fact, in the past few years, Putin has continued to increase his foreign and energy policies.
The Russian head of state has radically modernized the country's military and is putting increasing pressure on its neighbors and parts of the European Union in a threatening military posture.
Deadly, Germany ’ s dependence on Russian energy imports has increased dramatically again over the past decade. Since 2012, Russia ’ s share of gas supplies alone has climbed from 40% to 55%.
In terms of oil imports, Russia ’ s share also rose from 38% to 42% during this period.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, a close friend of Putin, is now chairman of Nord Stream's supervisory board
The problem is not lack of supply.
In Germany, one in every two apartments is heated by natural gas.
And depending on the weather conditions, the heating season often lasts until March.
Nevertheless, experts believe that if the conflict in Ukraine escalates, people do not have to worry about the sudden loss of heating in their homes.
Andreas Goldthau, an energy expert at the German Foreign Policy Association (DGAP), was quoted by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung as saying: "If we only talk about global supply, then we can replace Russian gas tomorrow, the question is, how much do we want to pay for it?" More liquefied natural gas; or use reserves of natural gas.
In particular, the industry, which accounts for 35% of Germany ’ s gas consumption, is already struggling with high gas prices.
For energy-intensive industries such as aluminum, fertilizer and ceramics, once the price of natural gas reaches a certain level, production can no longer be profitable.
German gas reserves at historic low
It is also not easy to take advantage of natural gas storage facilities.
This is because filling levels at gas storage facilities, mainly in northern Germany, are at historically low levels.
This was confirmed by Sebastian Bleschke of the German Association of Natural Gas Storage System Operators (INES).
Germany has the fourth largest natural gas storage capacity in the world, which is certainly one reason why many people, especially those in the internal market of the European Union, are now paying attention to German storage facilities, he said.
Currently, however, they hold less than 42% of their gas reserves.
"Filling levels have never been this low," Blaschke said.
The gas storage facility near Bremen belongs to Wingas, a subsidiary of Gazprom.
An interesting detail: 10% of Germany ’ s gas storage facilities are operated by a subsidiary of the Kremlin-affiliated Gazprom.
As Blackschke confirms, only 17 percent of these tanks are filled with natural gas, compared to 50 percent in other storage facilities.
European producers such as Norway, the Netherlands and the UK cannot replace Russian gas.
According to the Oslo government, Norway is doing its best to produce, and the Netherlands can no longer increase its supply.
And the UK itself is suffering from gas shortages and record gas prices, which have bankrupted some small gas suppliers.
Liquefied natural gas (still) cannot replace pipeline natural gas
In recent weeks, more tankers carrying liquefied natural gas have left the United States for Europe.
However, unlike its neighbours such as the Netherlands, Germany does not have a LNG receiving station in its coastal areas.
And Germany has the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is already filled with Russian gas and is awaiting its operating permit.
This sensitivity and contradiction in Germany ’ s dependence on Russia ’ s energy is particularly evident in the Nord Stream 2 project: the project was presented as a potential weapon of sanctions against Russia by German Foreign Minister Berbock, and then downplayed by Prime Minister Scholz as a purely private economic project.
However, the prime minister recently changed his mind, saying that the pipeline would be stopped in the event of Russian aggression.
However, industry insiders do not believe that Russia will completely stop supplying natural gas to the West.
Klaus-Dieter Maubach, head of electricity producer Uniper, noted that even during the Cold War and after Russia ’ s annexation of Crimea, Russia kept its long-term supply commitments.
Maubach estimated that Russian gas accounted for 50 percent of German demand.
However, this ratio has fluctuated, especially recently.
According to data provider ICIS, Russia supplied only 32 percent of Germany ’ s gas consumption in December; Norway contributed 20 percent and the Netherlands 12 percent.
Only 5% of Germany ’ s gas demand is produced domestically.
Nevertheless, even if the share of imports from Russia is well below 50%, Uniper CEO Maubach makes it clear that “Russia cannot be replaced as a supplier in the next few years. ” In addition, the German energy transition envisages the closure of three currently operating nuclear power plants and the phasing out of coal-fired power generation.
To make up for the resulting energy gap, natural gas remains Germany ’ s core fossil fuel.
Tankers loaded with liquefied natural gas at Rotterdam port
More natural gas purchases through the spot market
For decades, many European suppliers and importers have had long-term supply contracts with Russian pipeline gas, some as long as 30 years.
One of the reasons for the current surge in natural gas prices is that many suppliers buy natural gas in the so-called spot market for a short period of time.
Over the past year, prices on the spot market have multiplied.
This was not anticipated by the suppliers.
Energy professionals generally agree that Germany ’ s heating season should be over by the time people can fully make up for a possible Russian supply shortfall with expensive seaborne LNG.
Of course, time is good for Germany and the EU.
According to Breischke of the German Association of Gas Storage System Operators, Germany and the European Union can meet about 40 percent of their gas demand from Russia.
He said that the weather is quite mild now and that the weather is likely to warm further in the future, but he also said that "there is still uncertainty".
As a result, natural gas continues to be expensive — at least until spring.
Perhaps the situation will truly ease only if there is a peaceful solution to the geopolitical card between Putin and the West.
© 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.

Title:

Content: Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was an intolerable horror from the start. It has escalated into a genocide in what amounts to a terror campaign to subdue a people.

President Joe Biden was correct to call Russian atrocities a genocide, and even if the declaration is not yet official policy, it raises the moral urgency for all free governments to engage in meaningful and even painful steps to defeat a nihilistic and murderous dictator.

The U.S. is again leading the world in confronting a European crisis that threatens to become a global war. U.S. security aid to Ukraine during the Biden administration is now greater than $2 billion. Total European funds to the Ukrainian military forces now total about $1.6 billion.

It’s important that our European allies deepen their commitment to providing direct military aid. But the reality is that Europe’s greatest lever against Russian aggression has yet to be pulled, and that is dramatically reducing the German purchase of Russian energy.

There is no question that this would amount to a great sacrifice for the German people. Cutting off all Russian gas supply would send the German economy into recession. There would also be an impact on the way of life for Germans who rely on Russian gas to heat their homes and power their places of work.

But the corresponding effect on the Russian economy and the Russian war machine would likely be far more impactful.

Alina Polyakova, chief executive of the Center for European Policy Analysis, told us during a recent visit to Dallas that a German decision to stop purchasing Russian energy would alter the course of history.

“It would end the war,” she said. “They would just run out of money.”

The Russian war machine relies on direct payments for energy. Cut off the payments, and you cut off the money.

It’s simple in theory and excruciating in practice because of its real and immediate impact on people’s lives and nations’ economies.

Nevertheless, Germany has a moral imperative to take clear, positive steps toward sharply reducing its purchase of Russian energy, such as reversing a decision to shut off nuclear plants by year’s end. We are talking about ending a genocide, and, as Germany has recognized in its own laws and culture, the nation has an enhanced responsibility in this regard.

Ukrainians have fought bravely and have shown the world that they can defend their nation. But they cannot hold on forever.

Free nations everywhere will have to make sacrifices. We urge Europe to act now to support Ukraine, to help end the war and to benefit all of humanity.

— Tribune News Service

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Reversing nuclear plant shutdowns could reduce Germany's reliance on Russian energy, and the country is switching to other energy sources amid supply concerns.

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Ukraine and energy crisis, Germany to revise economic outlook
2022 / 3 / 30 21: 53
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FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Germany ’ s government economic adviser today revised his country ’ s growth forecast for 2022, warning that the war in Ukraine and soaring energy prices will damage Europe ’ s largest economy.
The German Council of Economic Experts now expects Germany ’ s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by only 1.8 percent this year from last year, down from its previous forecast of 4.6 percent.
"Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and energy prices are making the economic outlook dramatically worse," they said in their latest report.
The experts, whose forecasts are being watched by Prime Minister Olaf Scholz ’ s government, said they expect inflation to hit a decades-high 6.1 percent in 2022 as energy costs and supply chain disruptions continue to drive prices around the world.
These experts expect inflation to fall back to 3.4% in 2023, while economic output should rebound by 3.6%.
The conflict in Ukraine has dashed hopes that Germany will finally emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and return to growth.
Germany ’ s export-oriented industry is particularly vulnerable to supply chain bottlenecks and raw material shortages caused by the outbreak, and the pace of economic recovery has lagged behind other major European economies such as France and Italy.
Achim Truger, one of the consultants, said: “The supply chain has been strained by the Covid-19 outbreak, and this war has put additional pressure on it. ”
"At the same time, soaring natural gas and oil prices are putting pressure on business and private consumption."
German car giants Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz have been forced to cut some of their factory production due to the lack of vital parts from their Ukrainian factories, and exports to Russia have stopped.
Germany is also more dependent than other European countries on Russian oil, gas and coal for its industrial operations and home heating needs.
Germany imports 55% of its natural gas, half of its coal and about 35% of its oil from Russia.
Berlin has vowed to move away from its dependence on Russian energy in the near future by switching to other suppliers and accelerating the development of renewable energy.
But Germany has resisted calls at home and abroad to boycott Russian energy, fearing it would have a devastating impact on the economy.
German Economy and Energy Minister Robert Habeck launched Germany ’ s Tier 1 gas emergency plan earlier today amid growing concerns that Russia could shut down energy supplies in response to Western sanctions against it for waging war.
Hubbard also called on citizens and businesses to reduce their energy use.
"We are in a situation where saving every watt helps," he said. 1110330
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Nuclear power accounted for 6 percent of Germany's total electricity generation before shutdown, and the country aims to replace lost nuclear energy with renewable sources like solar and wind power.

The extension of the nuclear plants' life by several months is not expected to solve Germany's looming energy crisis, but the country may temporarily extend nuclear plant life to address the energy crisis, pending cabinet and parliamentary approval.

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.

Some Germans are focusing on renewable energy to achieve climate goals rather than restarting nuclear reactors, and the country is expanding renewable energy production.

Title:

Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
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.

However, a German environmental NGO opposes extending nuclear plant durations, and the German government remains committed to its nuclear phase-out plan.

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Content: Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
Chairman of the Board of Directors and Editors
I'm sorry.
Mohamad Elbaz
Editor-in-Chief
Wael Lotfy
Gas crisis prompts Germany to consider extending life of remaining nuclear plants
Germany may extend the life of its three remaining nuclear power plants, the economy ministry said on Monday, as public support for them grows in the face of a possible Russian gas outage.
Germany's remaining nuclear plants are due to close by the end of the year, after former chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to phase out nuclear power in the wake of Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.
The three plants accounted for up to 6 percent of Germany ’ s electricity production in the first quarter of 2022.
The ministry said the country's power grid operators had requested a new assessment on the viability of nuclear power.
"We will now conduct another assessment and then make a decision based on the clear facts," a ministry spokesman said, adding that the results of the new assessment were expected to be released within a few weeks.