Germany is phasing out nuclear power, with its last three plants set to close by year's end.

Nuclear power plants account for 6% of Germany's total electricity generation.

Germany's main energy shortage is gas and heating for industry, which nuclear power cannot address.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has driven up Germany's energy prices and electricity costs.

The average price of electricity in Germany is 0.37 euros per kWh, higher than in France, the UK, and Hungary.

Germany's high electricity prices are driving industrial production abroad, impacting the local economy.

Some German townships are experiencing power outages due to thermal power generation and transmission issues.

64% of Germans, including 40% of Green Party voters, support restarting nuclear power to increase supply and reduce prices.

Restarting nuclear power could cut Germany's carbon emissions by 25-30 million tons a year.

The German Technical Supervision Association found the three nuclear power plants to be normal, requiring only limited further testing for a restart.

The German government is exploring alternative energy sources, including US LNG, amid opposition from environmental groups.

Building new nuclear reactors is a lengthy process, so the country is focusing on expanding renewables to reduce fossil fuel dependence.

The European Commission has proposed labeling nuclear energy and gas as 'green' under certain conditions, despite criticism from Germany over safety and environmental concerns.

The proposal faces opposition from several member states and is expected to be scrutinized by the EU Council and Parliament.

Germany is facing a significant increase in electricity prices due to the phase-out of nuclear power and the high cost of renewable energy.

The country's nuclear energy policy experience offers a lesson for others on the importance of a diversified energy mix for energy security and reduced emissions.

Germany has allocated over 260 billion euros, nearly 7% of its GDP, to mitigate the energy crisis.

Germany's green energy sector faces a shortage of skilled workers, with over 40% of manufacturing enterprises understaffed.

The US Inflation Reduction Act proposes more attractive renewable energy subsidies than the EU, potentially drawing away international investment.

Germany's solar industry has declined, with 95% of domestic cells now made in China, and wind energy may suffer the same fate.

Germany aims to raise its defense budget to 2% of GDP, potentially straining its finances.

The transport minister wants an expert committee to review extending the country's nuclear power plants.

The Green Party opposes nuclear power, citing high costs and the potential of renewable energy.

Withdrawing from nuclear power may force Germany to rely more on coal.

Coal pollutes more than natural gas.

The ruling coalition is divided on nuclear power, with the SPD and FDP holding different views.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected returning to nuclear energy due to its high cost and long construction time.

Nuclear power plant construction typically takes 15 to 20 years.

Nuclear power is twice as expensive as wind, solar, or other electricity sources.

Uranium stocks are limited.

The Christian Alliance in Germany supports nuclear energy, favoring fourth and fifth-generation plants.

Chancellor Scholz thinks Germany's energy problems will be solved before a new nuclear plant can be built.

Germany prioritizes renewable energy over nuclear energy.

The energy crisis has sparked global interest in nuclear power.

The Fukushima disaster in 2011 led countries to scale back nuclear power investment due to safety concerns.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine tightened energy supplies, renewing Europe's interest in nuclear power.

Some countries, like Japan, are planning to revive and expand nuclear power generation.

Belgium has delayed its nuclear energy phaseout from 2025 to 2035 due to the energy crisis.

Nuclear power generates 10% of the world's electricity.

The IAEA expects global nuclear power generation to double by 2050.

Germany is debating the closure of its last three nuclear power plants, initially planned for 2022.

Nuclear power can replace coal-fired power, sparking interest in nuclear infrastructure development in countries like China, India, and others.

Nuclear energy use is limited by social preferences due to disaster risks and nuclear waste disposal issues.

New Zealand and some other countries oppose nuclear power, while the European Union debates its green status.

The European Commission's proposal to list nuclear power as 'green energy' may impact Germany's decision to abandon it.

In Ukraine, 4 nuclear power plants with 15 reactors supply half of the country's electricity, raising safety concerns.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has reduced Germany's gas supplies from Russia, contributing to its energy crisis.

Germany may postpone closing its last three nuclear plants due to potential winter energy shortages, deviating from its two-decade anti-nuclear policy.

The extension of Germany's nuclear power plants would be for several months, not a long-term solution to the energy crisis.

Some Germans, like the Christian Alliance, support nuclear energy, favoring fourth and fifth-generation plants.

The Green Party opposes nuclear energy and advocates for a transition to green energy.

The European Commission has proposed labeling nuclear energy and gas as 'green' under certain conditions, despite criticism from Germany over safety and environmental concerns.

The proposal faces opposition from several member states and is expected to be scrutinized by the EU Council and Parliament.

Germany is facing a significant increase in electricity prices due to the phase-out of nuclear power and the high cost of renewable energy.

The country's nuclear energy policy experience offers a lesson for others on the importance of a diversified energy mix for energy security and reduced emissions.

Germany's new nuclear power plants are estimated to take 15-20 years to build.

The estimated cost for building a new nuclear power plant in Germany is around 15-20 billion euros.

Germany relies on solar and wind energy, not nuclear energy.

Germany plans to expand its use of wind and solar energy.

Germany has no plans to build new nuclear power plants as it aims for carbon neutrality by 2045.

Germany's nuclear power plant shutdown has sparked criticism, as it must increase renewable energy and rely more on polluting coal-fired power.

Security of supply in Germany remains guaranteed despite nuclear plant shutdowns.

Germany expects its energy problems to be solved before new nuclear plants can be built.

Germany has shut down its last three nuclear power plants as part of its plan to use only renewables by 2035.

Delays and cost overruns in European nuclear plant construction may impact the feasibility of new plants in Germany.

The cost of renewables is declining, raising questions about the economic viability of nuclear power.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has reduced Germany's gas supplies from Russia, contributing to its energy crisis.

Germany may postpone closing its last three nuclear plants due to potential winter energy shortages, deviating from its two-decade anti-nuclear policy.

The extension of Germany's nuclear power plants would be for several months, not a long-term solution to the energy crisis.

Some Germans, like the Christian Alliance, support nuclear energy, favoring fourth and fifth-generation plants.

The Green Party opposes nuclear energy and advocates for a transition to green energy.

The European Commission's proposal to list nuclear power as 'green energy' may impact Germany's decision to abandon it.

In Ukraine, 4 nuclear power plants with 15 reactors supply half of the country's electricity, raising safety concerns.

Germany is phasing out nuclear power, with its last three plants set to close by year's end.

Title:

Content: Global News
Germany says restarting nuclear plants is not a solution to gas shortages
Speaking at the "Right Questions" event organized by the German newspaper Bild on Friday evening, Birbuck said she believed a final exit from nuclear power by the end of this year was right based on "the facts I know now and given what the challenge is."
She said the challenge was not electricity supply but gas, saying “I don ’ t see nuclear power as a solution ” in light of the Russo-Ukrainian war and the looming energy crisis.
According to the current law, the remaining three nuclear power plants in Germany must be closed by the end of this year at the latest, as the three plants account for 6% of the total electricity generated in Germany, and so far about 10% of the electricity in Germany is generated by natural gas.
In repeated remarks, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck stressed that the main shortage is not electricity, but gas and heating for the industrial sector, and nuclear power plants cannot address this.
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Nuclear power plants account for 6% of Germany's total electricity generation.

Germany's main energy shortage is gas and heating for industry, which nuclear power cannot address.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has driven up Germany's energy prices and electricity costs.

Title:

Content: World Vision: Restarting nuclear power, dragging the German government into crisis
November 06, 2022 00: 03
Eastern Network Television
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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

The average price of electricity in Germany is 0.37 euros per kWh, higher than in France, the UK, and Hungary.

Germany's high electricity prices are driving industrial production abroad, impacting the local economy.

Some German townships are experiencing power outages due to thermal power generation and transmission issues.

64% of Germans, including 40% of Green Party voters, support restarting nuclear power to increase supply and reduce prices.

Restarting nuclear power could cut Germany's carbon emissions by 25-30 million tons a year.

The German Technical Supervision Association found the three nuclear power plants to be normal, requiring only limited further testing for a restart.

The German government is exploring alternative energy sources, including US LNG, amid opposition from environmental groups.

Title:

Content: Since the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war on February 24, the US sanctions on Russia have become wider and stronger.
European countries have responded differently to near-“ unlimited ” economic and financial sanctions.
However, there are dissenting expressions of resistance to Russian oil and gas, Germany and the former Soviet Union ’ s Middle Eastern and European countries.
In August 2021, the United Nations Committee on Climate Change released a report by 234 scientists, revealing that the inescapable and increasingly serious climate crisis is a common historical undertaking that humanity must face together.
This is an important warning to EU authorities who proposed the “European Green Agreement ” in 2019, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 55% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, based on 1990 carbon emissions.
As a result, the European Commission proposed on December 31 last year and hoped to list nuclear power as a so-called "green energy".
However, EU member states are clearly aligned on the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality based on their respective energy mix and sources of supply, but they are quite divided on how to achieve it within the EU ’ s planned timeline.
As this proposal creates a conflict between nuclear France and anti-nuclear Germany, the European Union ’ s rotating presidency (January to June this year), French President Emmanuel Macron ’ s assertion that “nuclear energy = green energy ” has exacerbated the differences between the two countries.
For the German government, "nuclear energy is not a clean green energy, let alone renewable energy", this view directly collides with President Macron's "to reduce carbon emissions, but also reduce natural gas imports, we must take the road to nuclear energy".
"Carbon emission reduction" and "carbon neutrality", two different paths of thinking, originally just the EU "storm in the teapot", after the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine, US President Joe Biden publicly asked European allies to boycott Russian imports of oil and gas, the EU's energy policy has become an important issue for economic development after the epidemic.
After the Russian-Ukrainian war, the United States hopes that the world will jointly sanction Russia's oil and gas exports. This call, in addition to the United Kingdom's decision to no longer import Russian oil and gas by the end of this year, the European Union and NATO's European countries "excluding energy sanctions" show three meanings: First, the war may affect the safety of nuclear power plants.
Second, the different energy supplies and ratios of various countries directly affect the ability to cooperate with the United States to sanction Russia.
Third, the nuclear abolition of Germany and nuclear France, after the Russian-Ukrainian war, will make the European Union's energy policy, into a new stage.
First of all, there are many nuclear power plants in Europe; before the war, no one thought that the incident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in 1986 could happen again.
4 nuclear power plants with 15 nuclear reactors supplying half of all electricity in Ukraine.
Whether the escalation of war affects the safety of nuclear power plants is of great concern to European countries.
The situation is different in Switzerland and Belgium; five nuclear power plants have been decommissioned in Switzerland after the 2017 nuclear referendum, and one has been decommissioned in 2019.
However, in Belgium, where half of its electricity comes from nuclear power, the government of Belgium decided on March 18 to retain some of its power generation units and extend them until 2035 after the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Second, 30% of Europe ’ s crude oil and 40% of its natural gas come from Russia, and it will be difficult for renewable energy to replace it in a short period of one year, or even three or five years.
In Germany, for example, 35% of oil and 40% of natural gas come from Russia. Even if it comes from the United States (Texas) on the other side of the Atlantic, it also involves the construction of LNG (liquefied natural gas) receiving stations and the arrival of ships, and even a large number of super tankers above 320,000 tons, it is bound to not be the current Rotterdam (Netherlands), Hamburg (Germany), Anteppt (Belgium, etc. All major ports in Europe can handle the load.
And thousands of miles away from the oil tankers and LNG fleet, itself requires a large amount of fuel costs, the arrival of the transmission line of the laying, also can not be completed overnight.
After the completion of the price of oil and gas, the cost of fuel transportation must be added, and for Germany, which is the first high electricity price in Europe, the burden of the people and the operation of enterprises will be seriously affected.
Finally, Germany, which insists on eliminating nuclear weapons this year and hopes to achieve 100% green power by 2035, is a complicated situation.
After the Russo-Ukrainian War, Germany stopped reviewing Nord Stream II, which had already been built.
However, there is no political feasibility without Russia ’ s “Eastern Gas Delivery ”, as the Green Party has a joint government with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, forced to re-use the policy option of coal burning.
Compared with the energy policy of France with nuclear energy as the main body, for Germany with a GDP of 3.8 trillion US dollars, even natural gas is only a part of the energy transformation, the pursuit of 100% renewable energy policy goals, in the year of total nuclear abolition, if it also boycotts Russian oil and gas, it will be unbearable for the economy.
The delay of the Russian-Ukrainian war, on the one hand, some countries began to think about the safety of nuclear power plants at the same time, on the other hand, due to the boycott of Russian oil and gas, will hinder the achievement of the EU's energy transformation policy goals.
And for Germany, which pursues "100% renewable energy (green power)" in 2035 and is Europe's largest economy, it is a short-term solution and may not be able to do so in the medium term, and the achievement of long-term goals still has a long way to go.
# Nuclear # Energy # Natural Gas # Russo-Ukrainian War # EU

Building new nuclear reactors is a lengthy process, so the country is focusing on expanding renewables to reduce fossil fuel dependence.

Title:

Content: EU chaos! Macron and Scholz in furious bust-up over EU energy plans: ‘Risky and expensive'

FRENCH President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are locked in a furious bust-up over EU energy policy plans as disagreements have sparked division in the bloc.

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Macron wields 'tools to set EU agenda'

While France has been pushing for nuclear to be included in the EU’s sustainable finance taxonomy, Germany is in the process of completely phasing out the energy source in the country. The EU’s taxonomy is intended to hand a green badge to companies and activities — or to withhold it — to “help shift investments where they are most needed". This is part of the bloc’s aim to direct funding towards energy sources with a low or zero carbon footprint.

But this has sparked fury as Germany does not view nuclear power as a form of clean energy.

Mr Macron wants gas and nuclear to be labelled as a “transitional” source under the taxonomy as he claims they are needed for the clean energy transition.

He says that this is because renewables are “intermittent, and thus not totally substitutable, even with our interconnections [in Europe], for non-intermittent sources of electricity production” like gas or nuclear power.

And these calls do not come as much of a surprise, given that 70 percent of French electricity is generated by nuclear power.

Mr Macron has pointed to the verdict from experts on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to back up his calls.

Macron and Scholz are in a furious energy bust-up (Image: Getty )

Emmanuel Macron is pushing for nuclear power to be included in the EU taxonomy (Image: Getty )

They claim that “nuclear power is one of the solutions to decarbonise our economies”.

And this seems to have convinced Brussels, as the EU Commission drew up a draft proposal, circulated on 31 December, for this to come into effect.

Subject to a consultation period until Friday (21 January), It gave EU members and others just three weeks to analyse the proposal and provide their own comments.

Germany is strongly opposed to the nuclear plans and has been phasing out nuclear power for over two decades.

It also plans to shut down its three remaining plants at the end of the year.

READ MORE: World holds breath as Ukraine to fire rocket amid Russia tension

Olaf Scholz's Government is opposed to the EU's proposal (Image: Getty )

But it is not Berlin who disapproves of the proposal.

The EU Platform on Sustainable Finance, a European Commission advisory body, has torn the proposal apart.

In an opinion piece, it argued that nuclear power is not an entirely clean energy source, and that fossil gas is “far from green”.

Under the EU’s draft proposal, gas-fired power plants would get a “transitional” investment label if they meet a certain criteria.

That is if they use “at least 30 percent of renewable or low-carbon gases as of 1 January 2026, and at least 55 percent of renewable or low-carbon gases as of 1 January 2030”.

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Germany argued nuclear is not a clean energy source (Image: Getty )

And as of January 1, 2036, the Commission said all gas-fired power plants would have to “switch to renewable or low-carbon gases” to qualify for the EU’s green investment label.

But under EU rules, no technology can be considered green if it causes “significant harm” to any of the taxonomy’s six environmental objectives.

Those are climate change mitigation and adaptation, water protection, the transition to a circular economy, pollution prevention, and biodiversity protection.

Germany has been kicking up a fuss over the proposals, calling them “risky and expensive” in a letter sent to Brussels.

Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said in a joint statement with Environment Minister Steffi Lemke: “As the federal government, we have once again clearly expressed our rejection of the inclusion of nuclear energy. It is risky and expensive."

Germany has also claimed that there is a lack of safety requirements in the nuclear field.

Robert Habeck sent a letter to Brussels slamming the proposal (Image: Getty )

And it argued that the lengthy construction of new reactors "does not offer a short-term opportunity" to phase out carbon-intensive energy sources such as coal.

But while it has poured cold water over nuclear plans, Germany does not seem so opposed to the inclusion of gas.

In the letter sent to Brussels, it reads that gas used in "ultra-modern and efficient gas-fired power plants forms a bridge for a limited transitional period".

But the German Government did mention that the proposed fuel switch targets to low-carbon and renewable gases laid out by the taxonomy proposal are not realistic.

And Mr Macron is travelling to Berlin today to meet with Mr Scholz.

While the leaders’ meeting will focus on the Russia’s mounting pressure on Ukraine, the energy plans will no doubt be a topic of conversation too.

The European Commission has proposed labeling nuclear energy and gas as 'green' under certain conditions, despite criticism from Germany over safety and environmental concerns.

Title:

Content: Today 08: 05
Total views: 32
The European Commission proposed to consider “green ” nuclear energy and gas with a number of conditions
Under certain conditions, the European Commission proposed to consider nuclear energy and gas as “green ” sources of energy in the context of financing projects that should help fight climate change.
The proposal appears in a draft that was sent to member countries at the end of 31 December.
As far as is known, this approach is lobbied by France with its developed nuclear energy and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, in particular Poland and the Czech Republic, which have a problem with dependence on coal-fired power plants.
A group of countries led by Germany oppose such recognition for nuclear power.
At the same time, countries with different visions have a common understanding that green forms of energy, such as solar and wind, have their drawbacks.
In particular, their availability depends on weather factors that cannot be affected.
The project provides for certain restrictions - nuclear power plants in this case must obtain construction permits until 2045, and if we are talking about the renovation of existing stations - this is possible for projects until 2040.
In addition, certain guarantees are required for waste management and decommissioning of stations when the time comes.
For natural gas, the "energy source for the transition period", the investment is proposed to be recognized as "sustainable" only for stations that emit minimal amounts of carbon dioxide, which experts call unrealistic with existing technologies - 100 g per kWh, and for stations that will receive a building permit before the end of 2030 - 270 g per kWh, provided that they must replace even more polluting infrastructure and that the required amounts of energy will not be obtained from renewable sources.
Germany has already criticized the document, writes Spiegel.
Green Minister Steffi Lemke said that she believes the inclusion of nuclear power plants in sustainable development projects is an absolutely wrong approach, because each nuclear power plant is potentially dangerous and produces radioactive waste.
Co-leader of the Greens, Minister of Economy Robert Gabeck said that this blurs the concept of sustainable development projects.
As reported, Germany announced the closure of almost half of its nuclear capacity by the end of 2021, despite the energy crisis.
Only three nuclear power plants were planned to remain operational, which will be removed from the grid before the end of 2022.
Source: elektrovesti.net
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The proposal faces opposition from several member states and is expected to be scrutinized by the EU Council and Parliament.

Title:

Content: World

Berlin against, Rome is silent, Paris in favor. Nuclear power explodes in the EU

Germany closed three reactors in 2021 and plans to do the same with the other three in 2022. Belgium shares the same idea, “shut down” its seven plants by 2025. Spain, which has some reactors in operation as well, does not consider them “green” at all. Luxembourg dismisses the proposal to include the atom in the green taxonomy as a “provocation”. Austria of the atom does not want to know, with 82% of its primary energy production made from renewables (data 2019), and is studying a legal action against the Commission. France is delighted to see nuclear power (77% of its domestic production) taken into account by Brussels. Italy, which is fond of Minister Cingolani’s idea of increasing its gas extractions, is currently silent and at least hopes for a golden rule to exclude “green” investments from the calculation of the deficit. A few days after the publication of the draft of the European Commission on the green taxonomy, the distances between the 27 instead of narrowing, are widening and if yesterday they seemed divided, today they show themselves to be shattered.

The definition of the green taxonomy is fundamental in orienting investments: with the “green” stamp, industrial and infrastructure projects can be much more attractive for private capital. However, the decision to include nuclear and gas in the EU’s green taxonomy has met with harsh criticism already in recent weeks, when rumors had not yet taken the form of a draft Commission. The technicians from Brussels and the team of experts who collaborated in the drafting of the central document for the definition of the EU energy planning in the context of the Green New Deal tried to circumvent the foreseeable resistance by introducing some conditions for the two sources that are not neutral with respect to the climate and the environment. Nuclear and gas, first of all, will be considered compatible with the green taxonomy only for a defined period of time and “to the extent that they contribute to the transition towards climate neutrality and do not significantly damage the environment”, according to an official of Brussels. “The Commission sees the future energy mix as a predominantly renewable or low-carbon energy system. We really hope that this proposal will help bring about the change we need and channel private funding towards low-emission energy sources ”.

In fact, it means that investments in nuclear power will be “green” only if the projects presented have a well defined plan, funds and site for the disposal of radioactive waste in total safety. Building permits will only be allowed until 2045. It is worth remembering that at the moment there is still talk of third generation or third plus nuclear power. Not the fourth, the (slag-free) fusion that experts believe may have a role on an industrial scale no earlier than the middle of the century. As for gas, investments in power plants will be green only if they contribute to emissions of less than 270 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh and replace more polluting fossil fuel plants. They will need to obtain a building permit before 2030.

On gas, the Commission’s conditions appear much more stringent. It is a non-solid fossil source, certainly less polluting than coal and to which Italy looks with interest, having unused methane deposits. Moreover, in a European context of high prices and constant reduction of supplies from the main supplier, Russia, for reasons of a geopolitical nature. But it is on nuclear power that the clash risks worsening at the community level.

“We believe nuclear technology is dangerous,” government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit told reporters in Berlin, noting that the question of what to do with the radioactive waste remains unresolved. Hebestreit added that Germany “expressly rejects” the EU assessment on atomic energy and has repeatedly affirmed this position towards the Commission. Germany is now considering the next steps to take. Germany is set to shut down the remaining three nuclear power plants later this year and phase out coal by 2030, while its neighbor France aims to modernize existing reactors and build new ones to meet energy needs. Berlin plans to rely on natural gas until it can be replaced by non-polluting energy sources. The opposite paths taken by two of the EU’s largest economies have led to an embarrassing situation for the Commission. The draft EU executive branch concludes that both nuclear power and natural gas can be considered sustainable under certain conditions for investment purposes.

Hebestreit said the German government’s goal is to use natural gas only as a “bridge technology” and replace it with non-polluting alternatives such as hydrogen produced from renewable energy by 2045, the deadline the country has set for becoming climate neutral. . The spokesman did not say whether Chancellor Olaf Scholz supports the opinion of the Minister of Economy and Climate Robert Habeck that the European Commission’s proposals are a form of “greenwashing”.

Germany has pulled the plug on three of its last six nuclear power plants. The Brokdorf, Grohnde and Gundremmingen C reactors, operated by the E.On and Rwe utilities, were closed on December 31st after 35 years of operation. The last three nuclear power plants – Isar 2, Emsland and Neckarwestheim II – will be shut down by the end of 2022. However, closure does not mean decommissioning, which will take much longer and is expected to take place by 2040 in the case of Brokdorf, for example. .

In 2021, the six nuclear power plants contributed about 12% of electricity generation in Germany. The German energy mix consists of 41% renewables, 28% coal and 15% gas. By 2030, Germany aims to meet 80% of energy demand with renewables. This is not the case in France where – given Eurostat 2019 – 77.6% of its energy produced comes from the atom and only 20% from renewable.

Germany is not alone in the firm opposition to the proposal put forward by Brussels: the draft “is a provocation from a procedural point of view” and “in terms of content it hides the risk of greenwashing”, wrote on Twitter the Minister of Energy of the Luxembourg, Claude Turmes, saying he is ready to “examine the proposal in detail and discuss further steps” together with Germany and Austria, equally opposed to including nuclear power among sustainable investments. The proposal was sent to governments on Friday, “in a nocturnal and nebulous action. This says a lot about transparency ”, attacked Turmes.

The same tones used by Vienna: if these are the plans “we will sue”, wrote on Twitter the Austrian Federal Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy, Leonore Gewessler, highlighting that nuclear energy is “dangerous and not it represents a solution in the fight against the climate crisis ”. Austria has no reactors and produces almost all of its energy from renewable sources.

The Spanish government also rejected the European Commission’s proposal to include nuclear and natural gas energy in the EU’s “green” taxonomy. According to Madrid, this is “a step backwards” and “a wrong signal” for the financial markets. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, Teresa Ribera, stressed that “regardless of whether we can continue to invest in one or the other, we believe they are not green or sustainable energies”. Spain – he added – “is a firm supporter of green taxonomy as a key tool to have common references that can be used by investors to achieve the decarbonisation of the economy and climate neutrality by 2050”, but include nuclear and gas “It would be a step backwards,” according to the government official Sanchez. “It makes no sense and sends the wrong signals for the European energy transition as a whole,” he stressed. While admitting that both nuclear power and natural gas have a role to play in the transition, this is “limited in time”. Member States have until 12 January to provide their response to the Commission. Then, once published, it will have to pass the scrutiny of the EU Council and Parliament, where the environmentalist parties are also announcing a battle.

In 2019, France was the country that produced the largest share of energy in the EU (20% of the total), followed by Germany (17%), Poland (9.6%), Italy and Sweden (6%). ). However, the debate on green taxonomy is intertwined with energy security (or sovereignty) in a particular historical phase, marked by risks to the security of supply due to geopolitical and military reasons, as shown by the tensions on the Ukrainian border. Primary energy production in the EU in 2019 was distributed among various energy sources, the most important of which in terms of the size of its contribution were renewables, with over a third (36.5%) of the total. Second place for nuclear power, with 32.0% of total primary energy production, with France in the lead, followed by Belgium (77% of domestic production in 2019) which, however, is about to abound in nuclear power like Germany. However, all European energy production is not enough to meet its needs: more than half of Europe’s energy is imported. The EU energy dependency rate exceeds 50%.

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Editor-in-Chief, James loves playing games and loves to write about them more. He knows a lot about entertainment because he has done a drama course. James loves writing, so he is our writer. email: james@d1softballnews.com

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Germany is facing a significant increase in electricity prices due to the phase-out of nuclear power and the high cost of renewable energy.

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 nuclear energy policy experience offers a lesson for others on the importance of a diversified energy mix for energy security and reduced emissions.

Germany has allocated over 260 billion euros, nearly 7% of its GDP, to mitigate the energy crisis.

Title:

Content: Alert
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How did the German model achieve an unbearable energy transition war across the sea?
【 By Fu Guanqi 】
Environmental awareness, green energy production has always been regarded as the world's superior Germany, but because of a Ukrainian-Russian war, let the bright achievements behind the unfinished business, exposed to the world.
Is this general review of energy security, ignited by war, a crisis or a turning point for Germany, which rose from the ashes of World War II? Can Germany break through the status quo and turn into a new model for a sustainable economy in the future?
Or is it a death on the road to transformation? How can Taiwan find its future direction from this “energy transition war ”?
Just after Christmas, for many Dodd families, the most wanted Christmas gift may be a heat pump to make the whole family better through the winter.
Unlike the tens of millions of domestic heating systems in Germany that still use natural gas or oil as fuel, heat pumps are powered by electricity, which can be seen as "reverse air conditioning", which has a higher thermal conversion efficiency and symbolizes energy access at a lower price.
The energy crisis caused by the Russo-Ukrainian War has become a watershed in the price of energy in Germany.
The past dependence on Russia to import a large amount of cheap energy can not be returned, and the international carbon pricing mechanism is increasingly complete, which has led Germany to realize that only green energy is the way to reduce energy prices again.
The "Vision" team traveled to Germany, in-depth interviews and observed that the consensus that permeates German society today is: "There is not much time for the energy transition, and we must accelerate progress."
German Green Party MP Till Steffen, who visited Taiwan in 2022, told Visionary that "this' energy crisis' has accelerated the 'energy transition' and become a priority for the government."
German Economy Accelerates Greening, Renewable Energy Becomes National Security Foundation
This is not just a matter of paper. At the end of 2022, Germany inaugurated the country ’ s first liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal.
Germany decided last spring to build it, and it could be completed in a few months. “This is super fast for Germany, ” Steffen said.“ We need to scale up renewable energy at the same rate. ”
If you make decisions at the slow pace of your past habits, you won ’ t be able to achieve the goals you set. ”
In the past, far less ambitious than the Green Party ’ s liberal finance minister, Christian Lindner, has also designated renewable energy as “free energy ”, emphasizing its function to enhance Germany ’ s energy security and economic independence.
In this context, the two pillars of the energy transition, "switching to renewable energy" and "improving energy efficiency", have also become the top priorities of enterprises in the country.
Even the German machine tool manufacturer MAG, a pioneer of Industry 4.0, has re-examined energy conservation and is preparing to install solar panels on its plant.
“Many investment plans are being reevaluated because of higher energy prices, ” explains Sebastian Schoning, MAG ’ s head of Europe & Americas.“ Many investments that were previously unprofitable are now justified. ”
Solar panels that can be used for their own use and can be sold for electricity have been greatly shortened, and with tax incentives, large and small businesses and families have been selling out; installation technicians are so hot that waiting in line has become a new normal in the last few months.
Yen Chien-ho, general manager of the German branch of FSP, which has been operating solar energy storage business for more than six years from Taiwan, revealed that the green energy product line is already the main revenue of the company, and it is estimated that by 2023, solar related products can grow by 50%.
Quanhan also saw the business opportunities of green energy vehicles in Europe and decided to set up a new R & D center in Germany to attack customized charging devices.
Another Taiwanese company that has been working in Germany for ten years, Servo Press Co., Ltd. is also favored by European customers due to the fact that the product consumes about 50% less power than traditional presses, and is expected to double its business performance in 2023.
Germany has been driving the energy transition for decades. The driving force of this energy crisis is mainly reflected in the change of mentality and the re-calculation of business interests.
First, in terms of mentality, Germany used to import about 60% of its energy, and is more heavily dependent on cheap fossil fuels from Russia.
However, when energy is no longer so readily available, it has also greatly changed the German society's view of energy: in the past, everyone saw renewable energy as a threat to the stability of electricity supply, and now it is an important basis for protecting national security.
Second, in the eyes of enterprises, green energy has become the only energy source that can maintain long-term competitiveness.
"We all know that there is no future for fossil fuels," said Markus Rosenthal, director of government relations at the German Association for Energy Storage Systems. He cited the withdrawal of Allianz, Germany 's largest insurance company, and the active investment of major banks in decarbonization technology as examples. The effect of greening the German economy is greater than anyone else. "
Many may have heard of Germany ’ s Energiewende vision after the Fukushima disaster.
But such a concept has taken root in Germany ’ s anti-nuclear movement since the 1970s.
Since then, the Green Party movement has developed with the greatest political influence in the world.
GREEN ENERGY GREEN ENERGY CHALLENGE 1: Lack of work, insufficient capacity of Northern Power South
The Renewable Energy Act (EEG), which came into force in 2000, made Germany the first major economy to promote renewable energy.
Over the next 20 years, the proportion of renewable energy supply has grown significantly from 6% to 46%, and this remarkable achievement has become an international model case for promoting energy transformation.
However, the model of the period of peace seems to be unable to withstand the test of war, and Germany still fell into the dilemma of energy crisis in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine and the weaponization of energy are certainly uncontrollable factors.
But the German society's caution against nuclear energy has also made Germany more dependent on relatively clean natural gas during the period of phasing out coal.
“We are over-reliant on fossil fuels and the development of renewable energy over the past few years has been too slow, ” said Malte Kuper, energy and climate policy researcher at the German Institute for Economic Research (IW).“ We must accelerate the correction of the structural errors of energy policy over the past decade. ”
Wilhelm Kiewitt, Director of Energy Economics at 50Hertz, a German power grid company, said: “We are vigorously promoting the construction of renewable energy, but we have not updated the grid infrastructure and have not ensured that the design of the electricity market is compatible.
As a result, the energy transition is not doing well. ”
Wind power located on the northern coast of Germany has so far been difficult to reach the industrial heartland of the south because the government has spent too much time coordinating with the residents of the south to accept high-voltage cables cutting through their beautiful landscapes.
The lack of capacity of Northern Power South has become a key missing piece in the German energy puzzle.
In addition, the political lobbying power of fossil fuel companies and strict regulations on onshore wind power have also slowed down the pace of transformation in Germany.
A few months ago, there was a demolition of nearby windmills to expand coal mines in North Wales. Although the efficiency of these windmills was low and they were expected to be rebuilt and upgraded, environmentalists criticized this as a retrograde policy in the midst of the energy crisis.
But the lack of urgency may be the key factor in Germany ’ s gradual deviation from its goal.
According to the German government ’ s 2021 forecast, all sectors, from energy, industry and agriculture, will not be able to meet the 2030 climate goals on the basis of current carbon reduction actions.
In terms of new technology, even if Germany began hydrogen energy research more than 30 years ago, it has not been able to enter the expansion.
Thomas Hilig, founder of THEnergy in Germany and a hydrogen energy consultant, pointed out that “we have studied hydrogen energy thoroughly and want to know everything. ”
But it may be possible to start expanding sooner.
Indeed, now is the time to launch the app. ”
The impact of high energy prices and increasingly extreme weather have become a reality in Germany, forcing the country, accustomed to sound and prudent action, to admit its mistakes and shortcomings and accelerate the progress of the energy transition.
The question is, is it in time?
Opening a recent German newspaper will find that a crisis is not necessarily a turning point.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for 99% of the total number of German enterprises, are struggling, and many companies may not be able to survive.
A survey of companies released by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) in the summer of 2022 shows that due to high energy prices, 1 / 4 of enterprises have completed the deployment of production reduction, 1 / 4 have reduced the scale of operations, and the remaining half have not yet begun to act, and are still thinking about the corresponding steps.
At present, the German government has finalized a nearly 100 billion euro energy bill subsidy plan, but Asha Maria Sharma, deputy director of digital services at the Foreign Trade and Investment Agency, believes that financial subsidies are only part of the solution, companies must think about how to use AI, data analysis and other technologies to save energy, in order to remain competitive in the future when energy prices are higher.
However, the resources and financial power of SMEs are not as good as those of multinational enterprises, and it is not easy to face inflation, interest rate hikes, the impact on the dollar exchange rate and energy prices, and to devote more efforts to long-term investment layout.
For example, when the Covid-19 pandemic spread, Alexander Krug, the public relations manager in charge of the Berlin Digital Center for SMEs, observed that about a third of SMEs were suspending or even cancelling strategic digital investments that would bear fruit in the medium to long term.
Moreover, in the global semiconductor shortage, many small and medium-sized enterprises are competing for similar chips with the government-supported renewable energy industry, as well as Germany ’ s powerful automotive industry.
In terms of money and resources, it is difficult to win.
Cooper said that in the long term, the energy crisis can be an accelerator of the energy transition.
But for an industrial powerhouse like Germany, which has a high proportion of energy-intensive industries, there is also a risk that “industry may decline before the green energy transition is complete. ”
Many homes waiting for solar panel technicians to install their doors also reveal another risk: lack of work.
“If you ask a business, what ’ s the biggest question about operations? Almost every time the answer is, ‘ We need people. ’ ”
Especially in the areas of green energy and digital technology, which are crucial to driving transformation, there is a particular lack of technical talent.
Many countries in Europe have a shortage of jobs.
However, in the manufacturing sector, more than 40% of enterprises in Germany are understaffed.
In comparison, France is less than 25%, and Italy and Spain are less than 10%.
Even the director of the German public broadcaster said recently: "We have to recruit people from all over the world... even the German level of the candidates is not so important."
As long as I work hard, I don ’ t worry too much that they can only speak a few words of German. ”
GREEN ENERGY GREEN ENERGY CHALLENGE 2: Higher energy costs, the United States proposed a bill to reduce inflation and siphon off international investment
The evolution of the international situation has also made the adverse situation worse.
The European war is still raging, the epidemic is still hazy, and the tensions between the United States and China have caused Germany, formerly the beneficiary of free trade and international supply chains, to reverse the situation and increase the pressure.
In particular, in August 2022, the United States passed the $369 billion Inflation Reduction Act, proposing a simpler and more attractive subsidy specification than the European Union, which is likely to siphon off more international investment at a time when Germany urgently needs to accelerate the expansion of renewable energy.
Some scholars wonder whether Germany will be able to complete the energy transition that it failed to achieve during a period of relative stability in the face of many challenges.
Only recently did Germany significantly expand public spending to help society weather the epidemic. To date, it has allocated more than 260 billion euros in response to the energy crisis.
This is almost 7% of national GDP, well above the EU average of 83 billion euros.
Meanwhile, Germany is still trying to boost its defense budget to 2% of GDP.
Even if the money is relatively abundant, it is also pressure.
Reinhard Biedermann, a professor in the Department of Global Political Economy at Tamkang University, pointed out that to develop enough renewable energy to replace traditional energy sources requires a lot of investment, manpower and even land, which Germany cannot do at the same time.
“The energy crisis is really an opportunity to expand renewable energy.
But turning the crisis into a turning point is not so simple.
Germany depends not only on imports of fossil fuels, but also on imports of renewable energy.
After the decline of the German solar industry, about 95% of the domestic solar cells are manufactured in China.
Nordex shut down Germany ’ s last wind turbine turnstile plant in June 2022, taking into account costs, causing observers to worry that the wind energy industry may be heading toward a fate similar to that of the solar industry.
Steffen said that due to competition from China, the German solar industry has lost a lot of intellectual and political power, and now is the time to reinvigorate the domestic solar value chain.
“We still have capacity in wind energy, but we can ’ t find a market in our country because Chinese products are cheaper, ” Steffen said.
In some ways, the energy crisis is just beginning.
As the Visionary team rode a high-speed rail at a speed of nearly 300 kilometers across the edge of Germany ’ s beloved forest, they were greeted by rotating fans, solar panels laid on the roof of the building, and high-voltage power towers that transmit electricity over a long distance.
This has gradually become a familiar daily scene in German society.
At this point, it may be seen as an important milestone in the final completion of Germany ’ s energy transition, but it may also be the starting point for the decline of German industry.
Looking back at the challenges of the pandemic, companies in Dodd all agree that agility, flexibility and flexibility are essential skills to survive in the current changing environment.
In particular, German industry contributes more than a quarter of the country ’ s GDP, which is higher than developed countries such as France, the United Kingdom and the United States.
But strengthening the high-priced “Made in Germany ” brand with performance, quality and stability is threatened by higher energy costs.
Steffen acknowledged that many Dodd companies use cheap Russian energy to produce and then sell their products at high prices to the U.S. and mid-market.
This is similar to the common pattern in Taiwan.
Taiwan 's green energy students > risk assessment first, transformation needs to think about the overall order
Sucheta Govil, chief commercial officer of Covestro, observed that energy is already a global issue and resource constraints are becoming the foreseeable future. “Even if you are in Asia, energy prices are still cheap, but price increases are reflected in the supply chain. ”
This advantage is diluted by rising raw material costs, even if Germany considers itself to be of excellent mechanical engineering quality. ”
Even if Germany has only recently begun to cope with the energy crisis, the effectiveness of the policy measures will have to wait for time to prove, and there are still lessons for Taiwan.
First, understand your energy security and independence and conduct a risk assessment.
Leonard believes that encouraging energy conservation by raising energy prices and using this income to invest more in renewable energy is worth considering.
“Explaining to people the higher energy costs they pay will help develop renewable energy and improve energy security. ”
Second, think about the sequence of measures for the energy transition as a whole, and put limited resources in the right place at the right time.
Hans-Joachim Ziesing, a former energy transition consultant for Germany ’ s Future Energy Plan, shared that one of Germany ’ s mistakes was to set a good goal and vision before developing policies to be achieved.
A better approach might be to take a practical approach, clarify the quantitative benefits that each policy can bring, and determine that cross-party consensus can be reached to move forward together.
It is also important to continuously monitor the performance of data and to be accountable to all departments.
Hiliger observed that Germany ’ s national hydrogen energy strategy in 2020 shows that officials have learned from the siting of renewable energy and energy transportation.
“Many projects take production and consumption into account as a whole, for example, by making good use of existing construction, refurbishing natural gas pipelines to become hydrogen pipelines, rather than placing electrolytic tanks next to wind power plants. ”
Preparing businesses and citizens to move away from fossil fuels
Finally, it is the continuation of the momentum of social change.
In the past, Germany saw natural gas as a “bridging energy ” to connect fossil fuels with renewable energy; now, losing its main source of natural gas imports, it has had to restart coal plants and lease liquid-gas receiving stations.
After doing so, it may be harder to get rid of them in the future.
Ideally, when the hydrogen energy market matures, Germany can renovate this batch of liquid natural gas receiving stations into hydrogen energy receiving stations.
But the two are different energy sources after all, and the renovation will be another expense.
Whether it can be developed according to the plan is still uncertain.
After the government finalizes the energy subsidy policy, from the beginning of 2023 to April 2024, 80% of the bill will be protected by the price cap, and users will only pay 20% of the current price.
This will change people ’ s interest.
How to make good use of the incentive mechanism to encourage society to continue to promote energy conservation and transformation at the household, business and infrastructure levels is also a big test.
Although Taiwan, which has a higher industrial share than Germany, has yet to personally feel the waves of the European energy crisis, it will be crucial to be as prepared and adapted as possible to the future of higher fossil fuel prices before the price protection umbrella for long-term contracts ends.
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Germany's green energy sector faces a shortage of skilled workers, with over 40% of manufacturing enterprises understaffed.

The US Inflation Reduction Act proposes more attractive renewable energy subsidies than the EU, potentially drawing away international investment.

The US Inflation Reduction Act proposes more attractive renewable energy subsidies than the EU, potentially drawing away international investment.

The US Inflation Reduction Act proposes more attractive renewable energy subsidies than the EU, potentially drawing away international investment.

Germany's solar industry has declined, with 95% of domestic cells now made in China, and wind energy may suffer the same fate.

Germany aims to raise its defense budget to 2% of GDP, potentially straining its finances.

Germany aims to raise its defense budget to 2% of GDP, potentially straining its finances.

Germany aims to raise its defense budget to 2% of GDP, potentially straining its finances.

The transport minister wants an expert committee to review extending the country's nuclear power plants.

Title:

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 Green Party opposes nuclear power, citing high costs and the potential of renewable energy.

Withdrawing from nuclear power may force Germany to rely more on coal.

Coal pollutes more than natural gas.

The ruling coalition is divided on nuclear power, with the SPD and FDP holding different views.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz rejected returning to nuclear energy due to its high cost and long construction time.

Title:

Content: German Chancellor rejects demands for his country ’ s return to nuclear energy - Sunrise Gate
Monday 4 March 2024 3: 47 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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German chancellor rejects calls for his country to return to nuclear power
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Zendelwingen (Germany) - DPA
Published on: Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM | Last updated on Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz rejected the demands of his country to return to the use of nuclear energy in the generation of electricity, pointing in this regard to the high cost and long time required to rebuild nuclear plants.
Speaking at a vocational education centre in the city of Zendelwingen in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, Schulz said: “If someone decides now to build a nuclear power plant, it will be completed in 15 to 20 years according to the current construction times.
By then, we should have solved all our problems already. ”
The electricity generated by such plants costs twice as much as electricity generated from wind, solar or other production sources, Schulz said, noting that uranium stocks are ultimately limited.
"If we look back 20 years later, whoever made a less expensive and more efficient decision to produce electricity, it will be our country," he said.
In its draft new core program, the Christian Alliance (which leads the opposition in the country) expressed support for the use of nuclear energy and said it wanted to rely on "fourth-generation and fifth-generation nuclear power plants".
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Nuclear power plant construction typically takes 15 to 20 years.

Nuclear power is twice as expensive as wind, solar, or other electricity sources.

Uranium stocks are limited.

The Christian Alliance in Germany supports nuclear energy, favoring fourth and fifth-generation plants.

Chancellor Scholz thinks Germany's energy problems will be solved before a new nuclear plant can be built.

Title:

Content: German Chancellor rejects demands for his country ’ s return to nuclear energy - Sunrise Gate
Monday 4 March 2024 3: 47 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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German chancellor rejects calls for his country to return to nuclear power
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Zendelwingen (Germany) - DPA
Published on: Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM | Last updated on Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz rejected the demands of his country to return to the use of nuclear energy in the generation of electricity, pointing in this regard to the high cost and long time required to rebuild nuclear plants.
Speaking at a vocational education centre in the city of Zendelwingen in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, Schulz said: “If someone decides now to build a nuclear power plant, it will be completed in 15 to 20 years according to the current construction times.
By then, we should have solved all our problems already. ”
The electricity generated by such plants costs twice as much as electricity generated from wind, solar or other production sources, Schulz said, noting that uranium stocks are ultimately limited.
"If we look back 20 years later, whoever made a less expensive and more efficient decision to produce electricity, it will be our country," he said.
In its draft new core program, the Christian Alliance (which leads the opposition in the country) expressed support for the use of nuclear energy and said it wanted to rely on "fourth-generation and fifth-generation nuclear power plants".
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Germany prioritizes renewable energy over nuclear energy.

Title:

Content: German Chancellor rejects demands for his country ’ s return to nuclear energy - Sunrise Gate
Monday 4 March 2024 3: 47 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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German chancellor rejects calls for his country to return to nuclear power
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Zendelwingen (Germany) - DPA
Published on: Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM | Last updated on Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz rejected the demands of his country to return to the use of nuclear energy in the generation of electricity, pointing in this regard to the high cost and long time required to rebuild nuclear plants.
Speaking at a vocational education centre in the city of Zendelwingen in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, Schulz said: “If someone decides now to build a nuclear power plant, it will be completed in 15 to 20 years according to the current construction times.
By then, we should have solved all our problems already. ”
The electricity generated by such plants costs twice as much as electricity generated from wind, solar or other production sources, Schulz said, noting that uranium stocks are ultimately limited.
"If we look back 20 years later, whoever made a less expensive and more efficient decision to produce electricity, it will be our country," he said.
In its draft new core program, the Christian Alliance (which leads the opposition in the country) expressed support for the use of nuclear energy and said it wanted to rely on "fourth-generation and fifth-generation nuclear power plants".
You might like it, too.
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The energy crisis has sparked global interest in nuclear power.

Title:

Content: The current energy crisis, nuclear power generation is back in favor of countries
PARIS (AFP) - As global energy import bills skyrocket and the climate crisis rages, countries around the world are struggling to find alternative sources of energy, and their preference for nuclear power is rising.
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After Japan ’ s Fukushima disaster in 2011, countries scaled back investment in nuclear power amid concerns about nuclear safety, but after Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine in February, there was a renewed trend toward nuclear power as energy supplies tightened and Europe struggled to move away from its dependence on Russian oil and gas.
Some experts argued that nuclear power should not be included in the options under consideration; others argued that in the face of so many crises, the world's energy mix must retain nuclear power.
One of the countries that is reconsidering the use of nuclear power is Japan, which shut down many nuclear reactors due to safety concerns following the 2011 Fukushima disaster.
But Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida this week called for efforts to revive nuclear power generation and build new nuclear power plants.
Other countries that had intended to move away from nuclear power have also abandoned such plans, at least in the short term.
For example, within a month of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belgium postponed the implementation of its 2025 plan to abolish nuclear energy for 10 years.
Although nuclear power currently accounts for only 10% of the world ’ s electricity generation, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) raised its forecast for nuclear power production in September, the first time since the Fukushima disaster.
The International Atomic Energy Agency now expects global nuclear power generation to double by 2050, in the best case scenario.
Even in Germany, Europe ’ s largest economy, nuclear power is no longer a taboo topic, as the current energy crisis has reignited debate over plans to close its last three plants by 2022.
As nuclear power can replace coal-fired power generation, China, the Czech Republic, India and Poland have all expressed interest in developing nuclear infrastructure, with China now having the largest number of reactors.
Britain, France and the Netherlands have similar ideas; even US President Joe Biden ’ s proposed investment plan encourages the development of nuclear power.
Experts at the UN ’ s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) acknowledge that the use of nuclear energy “may be limited by social preferences ” because the risks of a nuclear disaster and the issue of how to safely dispose of nuclear waste remain unresolved.
But some countries still oppose the use of nuclear power, such as New Zealand, and the European Union has hotly debated whether nuclear power can be considered a green energy source.

The Fukushima disaster in 2011 led countries to scale back nuclear power investment due to safety concerns.

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine tightened energy supplies, renewing Europe's interest in nuclear power.

Some countries, like Japan, are planning to revive and expand nuclear power generation.

Belgium has delayed its nuclear energy phaseout from 2025 to 2035 due to the energy crisis.

Nuclear power generates 10% of the world's electricity.

The IAEA expects global nuclear power generation to double by 2050.

Germany is debating the closure of its last three nuclear power plants, initially planned for 2022.

Nuclear power can replace coal-fired power, sparking interest in nuclear infrastructure development in countries like China, India, and others.

Nuclear energy use is limited by social preferences due to disaster risks and nuclear waste disposal issues.

New Zealand and some other countries oppose nuclear power, while the European Union debates its green status.

The European Commission's proposal to list nuclear power as 'green energy' may impact Germany's decision to abandon it.

In Ukraine, 4 nuclear power plants with 15 reactors supply half of the country's electricity, raising safety concerns.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has reduced Germany's gas supplies from Russia, contributing to its energy crisis.

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.

Germany may postpone closing its last three nuclear plants due to potential winter energy shortages, deviating from its two-decade anti-nuclear policy.

The extension of Germany's nuclear power plants would be for several months, not a long-term solution to the energy crisis.

Some Germans, like the Christian Alliance, support nuclear energy, favoring fourth and fifth-generation plants.

Title:

Content: German Chancellor rejects demands for his country ’ s return to nuclear energy - Sunrise Gate
Monday 4 March 2024 3: 47 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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German chancellor rejects calls for his country to return to nuclear power
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Zendelwingen (Germany) - DPA
Published on: Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM | Last updated on Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz rejected the demands of his country to return to the use of nuclear energy in the generation of electricity, pointing in this regard to the high cost and long time required to rebuild nuclear plants.
Speaking at a vocational education centre in the city of Zendelwingen in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, Schulz said: “If someone decides now to build a nuclear power plant, it will be completed in 15 to 20 years according to the current construction times.
By then, we should have solved all our problems already. ”
The electricity generated by such plants costs twice as much as electricity generated from wind, solar or other production sources, Schulz said, noting that uranium stocks are ultimately limited.
"If we look back 20 years later, whoever made a less expensive and more efficient decision to produce electricity, it will be our country," he said.
In its draft new core program, the Christian Alliance (which leads the opposition in the country) expressed support for the use of nuclear energy and said it wanted to rely on "fourth-generation and fifth-generation nuclear power plants".
You might like it, too.
Share your comment

The Green Party opposes nuclear energy and advocates for a transition to green energy.

Title:

Content: Despite his opponents...
Europe 'chooses' nuclear power to pass harsh winter
Europeans suffering from a severe energy crisis will set a date with a historic test this winter, with the first attack of the cold, in a way that cannot be trusted.
The old continent has experienced an unusual warmth in recent weeks, which slightly eased the pressure on its decision-makers, but it soon found itself faced with the consequences of a drought crisis like no other in Europe in 500 years.
The European Commission said in its latest report that it was the worst drought in five centuries, warning of the risks and major environmental losses caused by it.
The most prominent of these losses affected the production of nuclear energy, the strength of electricity in Europe today, and the alternative solution sought by some countries in light of the energy crisis with Russia.
Although European nuclear power has been the biggest sponsor of the rupture in German-French relations, it is now seen as a solution to the electricity crisis.
New countries are also seeking accreditation, such as Poland, which two days ago opted for a US offer to build its first nuclear power plant.
At the same time, the countries that possess this energy are seeking to increase and strengthen their reactors, undeterred by the opposition of peoples and voices calling for renewable energy.
Germany and the return to nuclear
In Germany, work has begun on two nuclear reactors that were due to be shut down by the end of this year, in line with the country ’ s plan to graduate from nuclear power.
The project will cost around 100 million euros and will be operational after December.
This comes at a time when the nuclear power plant "Isar 2" plans to carry out maintenance at a cost of about 50 million euros, and the preparatory work at the nuclear plant "Neckaroisthaim-2" will cost a similar amount.
The shutdown of nuclear power plants was one of the most prominent demands of the German people in recent demonstrations in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Hannover, Stuttgart, Dresden and Frankfurt, especially supporters of the Green Party and supporters of the transition to green energy.
Kenzbendit, 29, said: “We Greens have been fighting nuclear power in Germany for decades, in the streets and now in the government.
Kensbendit told Erm News: "We do not know how the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Environment was deceived and delayed for months in order to prevent the extension of German nuclear power plants."
The young man who participated in the recent demonstrations added that "energy policy is not really for politicians, because they think and work to implement their political agendas, but energy policy is always long-term, and granting the tasks of the Environmental Self-Awareness Squad to the Ministry of Economy is illogical.
"The extension of the work at the nuclear power plant is incredible, disregarding and insulting the demands of the people, and will make Germany" ridiculous "all over the world," he said.
Paris turns its back on the environment
France is the world ’ s largest producer of nuclear energy, generating 70 percent of its electricity from 56 nuclear reactors and exporting to neighboring countries.
Nuclear reactors in France have suffered and half of them have been shut down due to malfunctions or drought, causing electrical output to fall to its lowest level in 30 years, and exports to fall by almost half, according to the latest government reports.
This led the French administration to increase the power of nuclear reactors and change the plan to gradually abandon nuclear reactors in favor of renewable sources such as the sun and wind.
The French move, analysts predict, will meet public anger and opposition from countries around the world seeking to combat climate change and calling for nuclear power to be replaced by other sources, in addition to the heavy financial burden on the French government.
It is well known that nuclear power is not practical in the economic sense, otherwise France would not need to nationalize EDF to be able to operate the reactors with government support.
Drought disrupts nuclear power
The drought crisis will significantly limit this planned expansion, according to data from nuclear reactor operators, because nuclear plants use large amounts of fresh water from rivers and lakes for cooling, and reduced river flows as a result of drought will reduce electricity generation at nuclear power plants.
According to French energy advisor Bernard Labonch, nuclear power is not only about the best way to generate electricity, but it is a historical legacy in France that is inextricably linked to nationalism, and it is taboo for any French citizen to advocate against nuclear power.
"If you want to get a job as an engineer or researcher in France you have to be a proponent of nuclear energy, so there are very few who openly criticize it," he said.
Thus, all indications are that nuclear energy will remain in France for decades to come, despite widespread public opposition and environmental warnings about the dangers posed by the water that nuclear power plants dump into rivers after they have used it for cooling, and the dangers it poses to ecosystems, fish and aquatic plants.
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Erm News
www.eremnews.com

The European Commission has proposed labeling nuclear energy and gas as 'green' under certain conditions, despite criticism from Germany over safety and environmental concerns.

The proposal faces opposition from several member states and is expected to be scrutinized by the EU Council and Parliament.

Germany is facing a significant increase in electricity prices due to the phase-out of nuclear power and the high cost of renewable energy.

The country's nuclear energy policy experience offers a lesson for others on the importance of a diversified energy mix for energy security and reduced emissions.

Germany's new nuclear power plants are estimated to take 15-20 years to build.

Title:

Content: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposed the return of the country to nuclear energy, pointing to the unprofitability of the construction of nuclear power plants.
“If someone now decides to build a nuclear power plant, then based on the current construction time, it will be ready in 15-20 years, ” he said during a trip to the city of Sindelfingen in southwestern Germany.
According to the Chancellor, during this period the country will have time to solve all the problems in the field of energy.
Scholz said that the electricity produced by the nuclear power plant is much more expensive than that produced by wind, sun and other sources.
“If you look back in 20 years and see who made a cheaper and more efficient decision on the issue of electricity generation, it will be our country, ” he said.
Author: Editorial | Date: 2024 / 03 / 04, 17: 59 | Heading: World
Topics:,
(No estimates yet)

Title:

Content: Germany will not resume the use of nuclear energy
Nuclear energy died in, turning into a “dead horse ” for the country ’ s economy.
will not build a nuclear power plant and relies only on solar and wind energy.
This was stated on Saturday by the Chancellor of Germany, reports AP.
In a Saturday radio interview with Deutschlandfunk, Scholz stated that nuclear power is "a dead horse" in Germany.
(This expression literally translates as “dead horse ”, and means something that has exhausted itself, a question that has lost its relevance; a question that is better to forget).
“Nuclear power is over.
The problem of nuclear energy in Germany has exhausted itself, it is a dead horse.
Anyone who wants to build a new nuclear power plant will need 15 years and will have to spend 15 – 20 billion euros (16.2 – 21.6 billion dollars) each, ” said Scholz.
According to him, any talk about the resumption of the use of nuclear energy will imply the construction of new nuclear power plants.
But this is not in the plans of the FRG.
Scholz stressed that Berlin intends to “expand the use of renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy ”
Earlier, the German Chancellor rejected the proposal of the junior partner in the power coalition that the country should leave open the possibility of using its closed nuclear power plants.
Rambler: top news

Title:

Content: German Chancellor rejects demands for his country ’ s return to nuclear energy - Sunrise Gate
Monday 4 March 2024 3: 47 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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German chancellor rejects calls for his country to return to nuclear power
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Zendelwingen (Germany) - DPA
Published on: Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM | Last updated on Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz rejected the demands of his country to return to the use of nuclear energy in the generation of electricity, pointing in this regard to the high cost and long time required to rebuild nuclear plants.
Speaking at a vocational education centre in the city of Zendelwingen in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, Schulz said: “If someone decides now to build a nuclear power plant, it will be completed in 15 to 20 years according to the current construction times.
By then, we should have solved all our problems already. ”
The electricity generated by such plants costs twice as much as electricity generated from wind, solar or other production sources, Schulz said, noting that uranium stocks are ultimately limited.
"If we look back 20 years later, whoever made a less expensive and more efficient decision to produce electricity, it will be our country," he said.
In its draft new core program, the Christian Alliance (which leads the opposition in the country) expressed support for the use of nuclear energy and said it wanted to rely on "fourth-generation and fifth-generation nuclear power plants".
You might like it, too.
Share your comment

The estimated cost for building a new nuclear power plant in Germany is around 15-20 billion euros.

Title:

Content: Germany will not resume the use of nuclear energy
Nuclear energy died in, turning into a “dead horse ” for the country ’ s economy.
will not build a nuclear power plant and relies only on solar and wind energy.
This was stated on Saturday by the Chancellor of Germany, reports AP.
In a Saturday radio interview with Deutschlandfunk, Scholz stated that nuclear power is "a dead horse" in Germany.
(This expression literally translates as “dead horse ”, and means something that has exhausted itself, a question that has lost its relevance; a question that is better to forget).
“Nuclear power is over.
The problem of nuclear energy in Germany has exhausted itself, it is a dead horse.
Anyone who wants to build a new nuclear power plant will need 15 years and will have to spend 15 – 20 billion euros (16.2 – 21.6 billion dollars) each, ” said Scholz.
According to him, any talk about the resumption of the use of nuclear energy will imply the construction of new nuclear power plants.
But this is not in the plans of the FRG.
Scholz stressed that Berlin intends to “expand the use of renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy ”
Earlier, the German Chancellor rejected the proposal of the junior partner in the power coalition that the country should leave open the possibility of using its closed nuclear power plants.
Rambler: top news

Germany relies on solar and wind energy, not nuclear energy.

Title:

Content: Germany will not resume the use of nuclear energy
Nuclear energy died in, turning into a “dead horse ” for the country ’ s economy.
will not build a nuclear power plant and relies only on solar and wind energy.
This was stated on Saturday by the Chancellor of Germany, reports AP.
In a Saturday radio interview with Deutschlandfunk, Scholz stated that nuclear power is "a dead horse" in Germany.
(This expression literally translates as “dead horse ”, and means something that has exhausted itself, a question that has lost its relevance; a question that is better to forget).
“Nuclear power is over.
The problem of nuclear energy in Germany has exhausted itself, it is a dead horse.
Anyone who wants to build a new nuclear power plant will need 15 years and will have to spend 15 – 20 billion euros (16.2 – 21.6 billion dollars) each, ” said Scholz.
According to him, any talk about the resumption of the use of nuclear energy will imply the construction of new nuclear power plants.
But this is not in the plans of the FRG.
Scholz stressed that Berlin intends to “expand the use of renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy ”
Earlier, the German Chancellor rejected the proposal of the junior partner in the power coalition that the country should leave open the possibility of using its closed nuclear power plants.
Rambler: top news

Germany plans to expand its use of wind and solar energy.

Title:

Content: Germany will not resume the use of nuclear energy
Nuclear energy died in, turning into a “dead horse ” for the country ’ s economy.
will not build a nuclear power plant and relies only on solar and wind energy.
This was stated on Saturday by the Chancellor of Germany, reports AP.
In a Saturday radio interview with Deutschlandfunk, Scholz stated that nuclear power is "a dead horse" in Germany.
(This expression literally translates as “dead horse ”, and means something that has exhausted itself, a question that has lost its relevance; a question that is better to forget).
“Nuclear power is over.
The problem of nuclear energy in Germany has exhausted itself, it is a dead horse.
Anyone who wants to build a new nuclear power plant will need 15 years and will have to spend 15 – 20 billion euros (16.2 – 21.6 billion dollars) each, ” said Scholz.
According to him, any talk about the resumption of the use of nuclear energy will imply the construction of new nuclear power plants.
But this is not in the plans of the FRG.
Scholz stressed that Berlin intends to “expand the use of renewable sources, such as wind and solar energy ”
Earlier, the German Chancellor rejected the proposal of the junior partner in the power coalition that the country should leave open the possibility of using its closed nuclear power plants.
Rambler: top news

Germany has no plans to build new nuclear power plants as it aims for carbon neutrality by 2045.

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.

Germany's nuclear power plant shutdown has sparked criticism, as it must increase renewable energy and rely more on polluting coal-fired power.

Title:

Content: Three nuclear-fired power plants will be taken off the grid in Germany on Friday as part of the country's plan to end atomic power.

"The nuclear phaseout makes our country safer and helps to avoid radioactive waste," said Federal Environment and Nuclear Safety Minister Steffi Lemke.

"It is now essential to ... advance the search for a final repository for high-level radioactive waste as well as permanent solutions for low- and medium-level radioactive waste," the environment ministry said.

Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel speeded up the phaseout following the 2011 Fukushima accident in Japan.

Friday's shutdown affects power plants in Brokdorf in Schleswig-Holstein, Grohnde in Lower Saxony and Gundremmingen C in Bavaria.

Germany's remaining three nuclear plants — Emsland in Lower Saxony, Isar 2 in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim 2 in Baden-Württemberg — will be closed by the end of 2022 "at the latest," the environment ministry said.

"Since 2011, Germany has been drawing a line under a highly problematic technology in an orderly, reliable process," Lemke said.

Nuclear accounts for about 10 percent of Germany's electricity production. The shutdown has sparked criticism as Germany will have to dramatically ramp up renewable energy and has also increased its reliance on highly polluting coal-fired power.

"Security of supply in Germany continues to be guaranteed," said Robert Habeck, federal climate and economy minister. He added that reliable and "sustainably generated electricity" is a "central requirement for aligning our economy and industry toward climate neutrality."

That stance puts Berlin at loggerheads with France, where nuclear is the largest element of its energy mix (and also helps supply Germany).

EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton said in September that existing nuclear plants, which provide low-carbon electricity essential to the green transition, can be kept running "for two, five, 10 years," adding: "Why deprive ourselves of this production capacity?"

France is planning to scale down the share of nuclear in its electricity mix from 75 percent to 50 percent by 2035, but President Emmanuel Macron said in November that France "will restart the construction of nuclear reactors" while "continuing to develop renewable energies."

Macron also said France will invest €1 billion into research and development, notably into small modular reactors.

Belgium recently decided to shut down all its nuclear power plants by 2025, but plans to invest €100 million in new generation nuclear reactors and research.

More from ... Louise Guillot

Security of supply in Germany remains guaranteed despite nuclear plant shutdowns.

Germany expects its energy problems to be solved before new nuclear plants can be built.

Title:

Content: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz opposed the return of the country to nuclear energy, pointing to the unprofitability of the construction of nuclear power plants.
“If someone now decides to build a nuclear power plant, then based on the current construction time, it will be ready in 15-20 years, ” he said during a trip to the city of Sindelfingen in southwestern Germany.
According to the Chancellor, during this period the country will have time to solve all the problems in the field of energy.
Scholz said that the electricity produced by the nuclear power plant is much more expensive than that produced by wind, sun and other sources.
“If you look back in 20 years and see who made a cheaper and more efficient decision on the issue of electricity generation, it will be our country, ” he said.
Author: Editorial | Date: 2024 / 03 / 04, 17: 59 | Heading: World
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Content: German Chancellor rejects demands for his country ’ s return to nuclear energy - Sunrise Gate
Monday 4 March 2024 3: 47 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
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German chancellor rejects calls for his country to return to nuclear power
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Zendelwingen (Germany) - DPA
Published on: Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM | Last updated on Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz rejected the demands of his country to return to the use of nuclear energy in the generation of electricity, pointing in this regard to the high cost and long time required to rebuild nuclear plants.
Speaking at a vocational education centre in the city of Zendelwingen in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, Schulz said: “If someone decides now to build a nuclear power plant, it will be completed in 15 to 20 years according to the current construction times.
By then, we should have solved all our problems already. ”
The electricity generated by such plants costs twice as much as electricity generated from wind, solar or other production sources, Schulz said, noting that uranium stocks are ultimately limited.
"If we look back 20 years later, whoever made a less expensive and more efficient decision to produce electricity, it will be our country," he said.
In its draft new core program, the Christian Alliance (which leads the opposition in the country) expressed support for the use of nuclear energy and said it wanted to rely on "fourth-generation and fifth-generation nuclear power plants".
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Germany has shut down its last three nuclear power plants as part of its plan to use only renewables by 2035.

Delays and cost overruns in European nuclear plant construction may impact the feasibility of new plants in Germany.

The cost of renewables is declining, raising questions about the economic viability of nuclear power.

Title:

Content: Tuesday 23rd August 2022 Abu Dhabi UAE
Prayer times
Today 's Issue
Today 's Issue
Global Nuclear Energy Recovery
A warehouse under construction for water storage at the Flamanville nuclear plant in France (archival)
August 22, 2022 00: 55
Hassouna Al Tayeb (Abu Dhabi)
After countries abandoned it for many years and lost most of the experience related to building reactors, nuclear power is starting to feel the way back.
Western countries are betting heavily on nuclear power, following decades of abandonment due to safety risks.
Governments are seeking to generate carbon-free nuclear power to tackle climate change and reduce dependence on Russian oil and gas.
The US, China and France are supporting a new generation of reactors that are easier to build and less risky than older designs.
Lack of Competencies
But such ambitions face enormous obstacles in Western countries.
These countries, which have seen the cradle of the sector, suffer from a shortage of managers and workers with experience in building reactors, after these countries abandoned nuclear power for several years.
Many of the reactors currently under construction, across the United States and Europe, suffer from tight budgets and years of delays.
As a result, many companies went bankrupt, exposing weaknesses in nuclear engineering capabilities.
In France, the construction of the state-of-the-art Flamanville reactor is expected to help the country become autonomous from dependence on foreign energy supplies and produce zero-carbon electricity.
Although the reactor was planned to start operating in 2012, welders are still working on fixing up to 100 faults that were discovered seven years ago.
In January, EDF, the company responsible for the operation of the reactor, postponed the date of filling the reactor to mid-2023, more than 10 years from the original start date.
That raised the cost to about 12.7 billion euros, nearly four times the base cost, according to the Wall Street Journal.
High cost
In 2016, the company was involved in a new, larger project involving the construction of two UK reactors at Hinkley Point, at a cost of around €18 billion ($22.5 billion).
Three years later, EDF raised the cost to €21.5 billion to €22.5 billion, back in May to €26 billion to €27 billion, and delayed the start date to 2027.
In America, Georgia Power is building two of the newest reactors to break a stalemate that has lasted more than 30 years.
The project has exceeded its deadline for delivery, with billions of dollars more than the initial budget.
Western countries largely stopped building nuclear reactors, following the Three Mile Island incident in Pennsylvania in 1979 and Chernobyl in 1986.
Anti-nuclear sentiment, including concerns about storage and waste safety, has become a cornerstone for environmental organizations.
The Fukushima accident in Japan in 2011 led to a further abandonment of the nuclear energy sector, as the United States tightened its procedures and Germany decided to shut down all reactors.
In the meantime, the International Energy Agency expects to double global nuclear capacity by 2050 and reach zero emissions.
The Czech Republic, Poland, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands all announced the construction of new reactors, in addition to the European fleet, which has been updated for decades.
France, which generates 70 percent of its electricity through nuclear power, has begun training thousands of engineers and workers in the field to build 14 new reactors.
France recently shut down 12 of its nuclear reactors due to some unexpected pipeline corrosion, prompting the country to increase its reliance on gas-fired power plants as Russia halted gas flows to Europe.
Electricity production
In Finland, a group of local companies collaborated to build a nuclear reactor in 2005, but the project did not start producing electricity until 13 years after its construction, at a cost of more than 5.7 billion euros ($6.1 billion), although the initial cost was only 3 billion euros.
Last year, the US Infrastructure Act approved the construction of a modern nuclear reactor at a cost of about $3.2 billion.
While TerraPower is proposing to build a new type of reactor that does not require high pressure to operate, European companies are planning to build smaller ones to reduce costs and waste.
With the cost of generating electricity from solar, wind and other renewables declining, questions have arisen about the economic viability of investing in nuclear power.
The cost of electricity storage batteries has also fallen, when the sun is blocked and the wind stops blowing.
All rights reserved to Al Ittihad Newspaper 2022 ©

The Russian-Ukrainian war has reduced Germany's gas supplies from Russia, contributing to its energy crisis.

Germany may postpone closing its last three nuclear plants due to potential winter energy shortages, deviating from its two-decade anti-nuclear policy.

The extension of Germany's nuclear power plants would be for several months, not a long-term solution to the energy crisis.

Some Germans, like the Christian Alliance, support nuclear energy, favoring fourth and fifth-generation plants.

Title:

Content: German Chancellor rejects demands for his country ’ s return to nuclear energy - Sunrise Gate
Monday 4 March 2024 3: 47 PM Cairo Cairo 24 °
Most Read
You might like it, too.
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Do you support calls to boycott some restaurants that have been proven to support the occupation soldiers?
German chancellor rejects calls for his country to return to nuclear power
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz
Zendelwingen (Germany) - DPA
Published on: Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM | Last updated on Monday 4 March 2024 - 3: 34 PM
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz rejected the demands of his country to return to the use of nuclear energy in the generation of electricity, pointing in this regard to the high cost and long time required to rebuild nuclear plants.
Speaking at a vocational education centre in the city of Zendelwingen in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg, Schulz said: “If someone decides now to build a nuclear power plant, it will be completed in 15 to 20 years according to the current construction times.
By then, we should have solved all our problems already. ”
The electricity generated by such plants costs twice as much as electricity generated from wind, solar or other production sources, Schulz said, noting that uranium stocks are ultimately limited.
"If we look back 20 years later, whoever made a less expensive and more efficient decision to produce electricity, it will be our country," he said.
In its draft new core program, the Christian Alliance (which leads the opposition in the country) expressed support for the use of nuclear energy and said it wanted to rely on "fourth-generation and fifth-generation nuclear power plants".
You might like it, too.
Share your comment

The Green Party opposes nuclear energy and advocates for a transition to green energy.

The European Commission's proposal to list nuclear power as 'green energy' may impact Germany's decision to abandon it.

In Ukraine, 4 nuclear power plants with 15 reactors supply half of the country's electricity, raising safety concerns.