# Report: Germany's Move Away from Nuclear Energy

## Executive Summary

Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power, culminating in the shutdown of its final three nuclear plants in April 2023, represents one of the most significant energy policy transformations in recent European history.

Originally motivated by environmental concerns following the Fukushima disaster, this nuclear exit has created substantial challenges for Germany's energy security, carbon reduction goals, and economic competitiveness.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has further complicated this transition, exposing Germany's dependence on Russian energy and forcing a reconsideration of its energy strategy.

This report examines how Germany's energy market is coping without nuclear power, the impact of the war on energy supplies, and the growing debate about potentially extending nuclear operations.

## Historical Context of Germany's Nuclear Phase-Out

Germany's relationship with nuclear power has been complex and politically charged:

- **2001**: Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's government first announced plans to gradually phase out nuclear power.

- **2010**: Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right government reversed this decision, extending the operating lives of nuclear plants.

- **2011**: Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, Merkel (a physicist by training) made a dramatic policy reversal, accelerating the nuclear phase-out with a deadline of end-2022.

- **2021-2022**: Germany shut down several nuclear plants, including the Brokdorf facility after 35 years of operation.

- **April 15, 2023**: Germany shut down its final three nuclear plants (Emsland, Isar 2, and Neckarwestheim II), marking the official end of its nuclear era.

This nuclear phase-out was driven by a strong anti-nuclear movement that emerged in the 1970s, which eventually gave birth to the Green Party—now part of the governing coalition.

For many Germans, opposition to nuclear power became a core principle based on safety concerns

# Report: Germany's Move Away from Nuclear Energy

## Executive Summary

Germany's decision to phase out nuclear power, culminating in the shutdown of its final three nuclear plants in April 2023, represents one of the most significant energy policy transformations in recent European history.

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

Nuclear power has long been contentious in Germany.

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

Closure of three nuclear plant's history:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Russia's invasion of Ukraine provided another plot twist.

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

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

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Content: The news tape.
Germany accuses U.S. of profiting from Ukraine crisis by imposing astronomical gas prices
Berlin-Sana
The German economy minister has accused the United States and other gas suppliers of charging astronomical prices for their supplies, suggesting they are trying to take advantage of the Ukraine crisis.
German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said: “Some countries, including friendly ones, sometimes achieve astronomical prices from gas sales, and of course this leads to problems. ”
“The United States reached out to us when oil prices went up, and as a result Europe ’ s national oil reserves were exploited, I think solidarity would be helpful to curb gas prices, ” he said.
This comes as Russian supplies via Gazprom have been significantly disrupted over the past few months, largely due to international sanctions on Russia and potential sabotage of the Northern Stream.
Follow SANA news on Telegram https: / / t.me / SyrianArabNewsAgenc
Look, too.
Germany has ruled out extending the life span of its three remaining nuclear reactors.
Berlin-SANA German Economy Minister Robert Habeck has ruled out extending the life span of reactors

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Content: Hill Original
Hill: because of the “green ” recklessness, Europeans are at risk of dying from the cold, and the United States may be next
Europe ’ s commitment to a green energy policy combined with reckless idealism this winter could lead to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people.
According to the author of The Hill, this situation should serve as a wake-up call for America if the “new green course ” prevails in it.
The deadly winter is the result of Europe ’ s own energy experiment.
Utopian climate initiatives combined with inflation, declining fossil fuel production in America and reluctance to buy Russian oil or natural gas could kill hundreds of thousands of people on the continent this winter.
Although the continent ’ s purchases of Russian fuel stopped mostly this year, the seeds of the current EU energy crisis were sown many years ago.
Attempts to replace traditional energy sources with environmentally friendly sources have led to disastrous consequences.
For example, Germany spent $150 billion on renewables as part of its own version of the Green New Deal, but as a result, the country ’ s energy prices were among the highest in the world, and wind power production fell by a quarter in early 2021.
By rushing away from nuclear power and fossil fuels, former Chancellor Angela Merkel and her successor, Olaf Scholz, have made the country virtually dependent on “hostile Russia ” for years to come.
At the same time, Berlin ’ s decision to dismantle its nuclear power plants after the disaster at Japan ’ s Fukushima nuclear power plant in 2011 led not only to dependence on Russian fossil fuels, but also to large-scale coal burning and increased CO2 emissions.
Now the country is trying to abandon its previous decision and extend the work of its nuclear power plants, while resuming the work of coal power plants.
France and Britain have banned fracking and fracking over the past five years.
The United States has been filling Europe ’ s critical natural gas shortage for nearly a decade, but America ’ s declining production means that there is more than limited scope to salvage the situation.
The head of the International Energy Agency predicts a shortage of energy in Europe this winter.
Such a commitment to green politics, combined with reckless idealism, will cost many lives.
In the UK alone, the annual excess mortality rate in winter is more than 28,000.
Every year in all of Europe, about 200 thousand such deaths are recorded, and with each decrease in temperature by 1 ° C, their number increases by 1.5%.
A very cold winter and a sharp decline in the possibility of using constant heating could potentially trigger a six-figure increase in excess mortality across the continent.
In particular, regions with large urban populations, less able to provide themselves with firewood as a backup source or particularly heavy reliance on Russian fuel oil, such as France, the UK or Germany, will be at much greater risk.
The author of the article notes that if in the United States the struggle for an accelerated transition to unreliable and costly clean energy sources or a ban on fracking is successful, the country may face consequences comparable to what the Europeans received as a result.
Had it not been for fracking, the United States would have faced a similar deficit after the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine, and the price of gasoline would probably have more than doubled compared to today.
“The coming winter, which could lead to deaths in Europe, should serve as a wake-up call for the United States.
Europe ’ s optimistic but ultimately ineffectual energy policy is brewing what could become the biggest energy crisis of our time.
For the sake of demonstrating “virtue ”, a threat is created for people throughout the continent: in conditions of low temperatures, they face food shortages and, possibly, high mortality, ” concludes the author of the material.
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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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Content: Germany ’ s last three nuclear power plants may be delayed
In light of the potential energy crisis in Europe in the winter, officials revealed that Germany intends to delay the decommissioning of the last three nuclear plants in the country, although it will only temporarily prolong the life of the plants, but it marks the first time that Germany has deviated from the energy policy introduced in the millennium and has so far been enshrined by almost all parties.
The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) quoted senior officials as saying that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has not yet formally adopted the proposal to delay the discharge, and if it is decided to do so, there are technical and legal issues, including passing through parliament.
The cabinet is currently discussing some details, and while it will have to wait for the results of the energy demand assessment in the coming weeks to come to a conclusion, officials have revealed that everything is almost a foregone conclusion.
The last three nuclear plants in Germany were due to be decommissioned on December 31, and the government reportedly believes that a temporary delay would require two conditions: Germany is likely to suffer from a natural gas shortage and there are no safety concerns about keeping nuclear reactors in operation.
The shift in German policy underscores the shock of Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine to European political circles, especially Germany, which has been closely tied to Russia ’ s economy and has long relied on Russian gas supplies.
After the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he began to increase military spending, send weapons to Ukraine, break years of pacifism, supply arms to conflict zones, the latest energy policy shift, and involve the almost sacred issue of “nuclear abolition ” in German politics.
The German economy ministry, which dominates energy policy, declined to comment on the report, saying only that it all depends on the outcome of an assessment of Germany ’ s energy needs.
The remaining three nuclear power plants account for about 6% of Germany's electricity generation, and if they continue to supply power, they will not have to use natural gas or coal-fired power to fill the gap, allowing some areas to continue to have natural gas.
In some parts of Germany, huge coal-fired power plants have resumed operations in response to a potential power outage from a Russian supply cut in June, disrupting Germany ’ s progress so far in reducing carbon and fighting air pollution.
The German government has drawn up two executive orders on how to reduce natural gas and energy consumption over the next two years.
Energy authorities estimate that Germany will need to reduce its use of natural gas by 20% in order to avoid a shortage of natural gas this winter and next.
It is unclear when the German authorities may extend the discharge period, with some officials offering a few months, but the ruling Liberal Democrats believe it should be extended to 2024.
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Content: Read the history of the moment: why is Germany so entangled in nuclear power? | German News | DW | 14.04.2023
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Read the history of the present: why is Germany so entangled in nuclear power?
Germany was proud of its nuclear power generation technology, but at the same time the technology has been so controversial that it has finally decided that April 15, 2023 is the date of withdrawal from nuclear power.
However, as the energy crisis caused by the Russian-Ukrainian war continues to intensify, the wisdom of the decision to say goodbye to nuclear energy has been widely discussed.
Germany ’ s nuclear policy is in dispute again
It all started with an "egg" - Germany's first nuclear reactor in Garching, near Munich, went into operation in October 1957.
Because the nuclear reactor, which belongs to the University of Munich, resembles an egg, it is nicknamed the "atomic egg".
It was a milestone in Germany's nuclear energy research and a symbol of Germany's resurgence after World War II.
The nuclear reactor, which was used for scientific purposes, remained in operation until 2000.
In 1957, Germany built its first nuclear reactor.
Three years later, in 1960, the first nuclear power plant for civilian use was built in the city of Kahl, on the banks of the Main River in Bavaria.
At that time, atomic energy was widely regarded as both safe and reliable. The 1973 oil crisis gave further impetus to the rapid development of nuclear energy in Germany.
The start of the anti-nuclear movement
Since it has been impossible to find a foolproof way to store nuclear waste, opponents have begun to question whether nuclear energy is really a clean energy source.
Thousands of protesters clashed with police during the construction of the Brockdorf nuclear power plant in the state of Shihe.
Since the 1970s, plans for the construction of the Brockdorf nuclear power plant have triggered numerous police and civil conflicts.
"Nuclear energy? No, thank you!" has become a rallying cry for environmentalists.
In the 1980s, a new political party, the Green Party, emerged in West Germany. Its members are mainly leftists, pacifists, environmentalists and anti-nuclear forces. In 1983, the Green Party entered the Bundestag.
In 1983, Green Party politicians Gert Bastian and Petra Kelly were elected to the Bundestag.
On March 28, 1979, a serious accident occurred at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, United States. On April 26, 1986, a reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, Soviet Union, exploded, causing the worst nuclear disaster in history.
Radiation clouds spread throughout Europe.
The accident also marked a turning point in discussions about nuclear technology in Germany.
At the time, Germany was still divided.
In East Germany under the Communist Party, the public received almost no information about the nuclear accident and its effects.
West Germany, on the other hand, was in a state of confusion and politicians were helpless.
People were unprepared for a nuclear leak, and the government was unable to provide guidelines and response strategies for the time being.
A hastily formed crisis management team was also disbanded shortly afterwards.
The Chernobyl nuclear accident has caused widespread concern in Germany.
People are buying iodine.
A large quantity of fruit, vegetables and milk in the supermarket was ordered to be removed from the shelves because of concerns about nuclear radiation.
Children were banned from playing in the sand pools and citizens were warned not to go out in the rain.
Although the health effects of radiation were not detected in Germany, the accident led to the introduction of nationwide radiation monitoring in Germany, which eventually led to the establishment of the Federal Ministry of the Environment.
Plans to build a nuclear waste treatment plant in the Bavarian town of Wackersdorf have sparked serious riots.
The clashes left several protesters and civil servants dead and hundreds injured.
The project was finally halted in 1989, the first major victory of the German environmental movement.
And...
In 2011, protesters handcuffed themselves to the tracks in an attempt to block trains carrying nuclear waste.
Meanwhile, in northern Germany, Gorleben in Lower Saxony became a symbol of the struggle against nuclear waste, and the town was designated to temporarily store nuclear waste until a permanent storage site was identified.
The first shipment of nuclear waste arrived in the town on 24 April 1995.
A long farewell to nuclear power - Germany's nuclear withdrawal process after many setbacks
In 2001, Schroeder's center-left coalition government of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party reached an agreement with major energy companies to phase out nuclear power.
All 19 nuclear power plants in Germany have been given operating timelines and the last one is required to be shut down by 2021.
In 2001, Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder announced that Germany would phase out nuclear power generation.
In 2010, the center-right government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel withdrew the nuclear withdrawal agreement.
It also decided to extend the operating time of nuclear power plants.
However, the third major nuclear accident in the world has caused a change in Germany's nuclear energy policy. On March 11, 2011, the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan caused by the earthquake and tsunami.
The impact of the accident on Germany is even greater than that of Japan.
As a veteran physicist, German Chancellor Angela Merkel unexpectedly changed her usual stance on nuclear energy policy.
Merkel suddenly announced that the era of nuclear power in Germany will end by the end of 2022. On July 30, 2011, the German Bundestag voted to approve the resolution.
After years of fierce fighting, the Brockdorf nuclear power plant in the state of Ishih will finally become history in 2021 after 35 years of operation.
In 2017, Germany decided to start a nationwide search for a safe place to store highly radioactive nuclear waste, with the mission to be completed by 2031.
At the end of 2021, anti-nuclear activists celebrated the closure of a nuclear power plant in North Germany.
Rethinking the nuclear policy.
The war in Ukraine has made Germany anxious to get rid of its energy dependence on Russia, which has also reignited the already ironclad policy of denuclearization.
The coalition leader has spearheaded a proposal to extend the operating time of nuclear power plants to replace natural gas from Russia with nuclear power.
In August 2022, CDU Chairman Meltz and CSU Chairman Soder both put forward the idea of extending the time limit for nuclear power operations.
Christian Lindner, finance minister of the business-oriented Liberal Democratic Party (FDP), immediately backed a return to nuclear power.
His party is junior partner in a centre-left coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens.
The latter will find it difficult to agree to an extension because opposition to nuclear power is one of their core issues.
But in the summer of 2022, no one in Germany completely ruled out that possibility.
LDP finance minister Lindner, who is focused on business interests, was also quick to join the pro-nuclear camp.
But for the Green Party, which is also part of the ruling coalition, the possibility of agreeing to extend the operating time of nuclear power plants is slim, because opposition to nuclear power is their basic principle.
Anything is possible in Germany in 2022.
Can nuclear power be a climate savior?
Editor: This article was originally published in August 2022
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Originally motivated by environmental concerns following the Fukushima disaster, this nuclear exit has created substantial challenges for Germany's energy security, carbon reduction goals, and economic competitiveness.

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Content: The launch of coal-fired power plants by Germany after a long hiatus could be a temporary solution to the problem of shortages and high prices for natural gas, and in the future such electricity will also become expensive.
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This was stated by the head of the climate department of the Ministry of Environment of Estonia Kädi Ristkok.
She believes that caused by the launch of coal-fired power plants in the European Union, the increase in prices for carbon dioxide emissions quotas can lead to the fact that coal electricity will eventually become more expensive than gas.
“When prices in the CO2 quota market rise, they have a significantly greater impact on electricity generated from coal and shale, resulting in a loss of competitiveness compared to gas, ” Ristcock said.
The higher the price of CO2 quotas, the lower the competitiveness of coal and oil shale will be compared to gas.
This would reduce interest in using as an alternative to gas, Ristcock added.
According to her, the coal plants will not be able to work for long, taking into account the course taken by the EU to abandon electricity generation with atmospheric emissions, and the current situation will last no more than two years.
Natural gas supplies from Russia to Europe have decreased significantly, and Germany and a number of other countries have announced their intention to restart coal-fired power plants with large greenhouse gas emissions.

The Russian-Ukrainian war has further complicated this transition, exposing Germany's dependence on Russian energy and forcing a reconsideration of its energy strategy.

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Content: Germany to restart coal-fired power plants: temporary
July 17, 2022 15: 13
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Russia ’ s invasion of Ukraine has led to Western sanctions, and Germany, which relies on Russian energy supplies, has recently announced that it will restart coal-fired power to avoid being threatened by other countries in terms of energy demand, but it has also raised questions about whether Germany can become carbon neutral within the time promised.
In response, German Chancellor Gerhard Schörtz stressed that the resumption of coal-fired power generation was only temporary, and regretted the country ’ s earlier announcement that it would reopen 16 fossil fuel plants and extend the operating permits for another 11.
Scholz said Germany remains committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2045, saying parliament had recently approved a package of measures to promote renewable energy and tackle the climate crisis.

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Morgan: Germany is following the Russo-Ukrainian war and is committed to a renewable energy transition
Jennifer Morgan, Minister of State and Special Envoy for International Climate Action at the German Foreign Ministry, stressed that Germany attaches great importance to the Russian aggression on Ukraine, including the emphasis on energy supplies announced by Germany, stressing its commitment to move quickly to renewable energy sources and improve energy efficiency, stressing: “We must stop relying on Russia ’ s supply of fuel. ”
In an exclusive interview with Good Morning Egypt, Channel One, Jennifer Morgan said that Egypt and Germany have a long history of cooperation on renewable energy – waste disposal or city solutions, and we aim to push this cooperation forward at the upcoming climate conference.
Morgan added that the upcoming climate conference will work to reduce the temperature of the earth by one and a half degrees Celsius, noting that Egypt is seeking international contributions in this field, noting: "We have seen great work by international institutions, whether in cities or in the agricultural field in Egypt."

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In Germany, were afraid of the termination of Russian energy supplies
German authorities believe that in response to the sanctions imposed by the EU against Russia due to the recent events in Ukraine, Moscow may stop supplying energy to Europe.
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This report examines how Germany's energy market is coping without nuclear power, the impact of the war on energy supplies, and the growing debate about potentially extending nuclear operations.

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More nuclear power in the UK will ‘create high quality jobs’ - so why is there so much opposition?

UK plans to expand nuclear energy output to wean itself off Russian gas.   -   Copyright  Canva
By Charlie Jaay

Alongside new commitments to renewable energy, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced that he wants nuclear power to provide 25 per cent of the country’s electricity by 2050.

The development of a new generation of nuclear power will ensure its rapid expansion, he says, as a “clean, reliable and safe energy source”.

So what is driving the UK’s push for nuclear?

Nuclear energy plays an important part in the UK’s plans to ensure energy independence - particularly from Russian natural gas, according to a Dept. for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy spokesperson.

“In light of high global gas prices and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, we need to ensure Britain’s future energy supply is bolstered by reliable, affordable power that is generated in this country,” they say.

“New nuclear will not only provide this, but will also create high-quality jobs and drive economic growth.”

To meet its target of 'net zero' by 2050, Britain urgently needs to move away from fossil fuels.

And many climate scientists and international organisations argue that a global shift towards nuclear power is essential to tackle the climate emergency and meet increasing energy demands.

In contrast to fossil fuels, a nuclear plant does not directly release carbon in its operation. It is also unaffected by external climatic factors, such as cold snaps or very light winds, therefore creating a reliable energy output.

Adrian Bull, BNFL chair in Nuclear Energy Systems at The University of Manchester’s Dalton Nuclear Institute is a firm supporter of nuclear.

"Reaching Net Zero UK emissions by 2050 will be a huge challenge, and we’ll need every form of low carbon generation we can muster. Nuclear – the only proven and practical way of delivering vast quantities of low carbon power 24/7 in the UK – must have a role to play alongside wind, solar, tidal and other renewable options,” he tells Euronews Green.

“The role of advanced reactors providing heat for hydrogen and other uses, as well as electricity, is also vitally important. The steps being taken now would have been better a decade or more ago, but we can still reach Net Zero if we move fast!"

Currently, 16 per cent of the UK’s electricity is generated from its six nuclear power reactors, but by the end of this decade only one will still be producing power.

Therefore, plans to pursue the expansion of the country’s nuclear energy sector are a huge turnaround for the industry.

But nuclear energy is a divisive issue

Although described by the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency as among “the safest and most secure facilities in the world”, Chernobyl, Windscale, Three Mile Island and Fukushima have shown that malfunctions can be catastrophic.

Radioactive materials can persist for many thousands of years and, when released into the environment, contaminate everything from the air, water and soil, humans, animals and plants.

35 years after the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, and just outside the 30 mile radius exclusion zone, high levels of radioactivity are still found in grain, meat, dairy products and many trees. Traces of radiation have also been found 200 miles from the exclusion site, which may remain uninhabitable for years to come.

High level radioactive waste is produced in a facility’s day-to-day operations can remain hazardous for thousands of years.

Even in the absence of any accident, high level radioactive waste is produced in a facility’s day-to-day operations which can remain hazardous for thousands of years.

Nearly 350,000 tonnes is in temporary storage around the world, with some canisters already showing signs of deterioration.

Which countries have succeeded at disposing of nuclear waste safely?

The UK, like many other countries, favours “deep geological disposal” as the preferred solution for final disposal of the most radioactive waste but, as yet, has not found a community willing to host the £12bn (€14.1bn) facility.

So far only Finland has managed to implement this plan, creating around 100 nuclear waste disposal tunnels at depths of over 400 metres, to keep the waste isolated for the required 100,000 years. But, according to former Director of Research for the Geological Survey of Finland, Matti Saarnisto, freezing temperatures during the next ice age could lead to damage of this storage facility.

Nuclear reactors require huge amounts of water, so are built on the coast or near lakes. Dr Paul Dorfman, head of the UK’s Nuclear Consulting Group, says this has given rise to new risks.

Nuclear reactors require huge amounts of water, so are built on the coast or near lakes. This has given rise to new risks.

"With extreme weather events today becoming the norm in the future, existing risk mitigation measures become increasingly obsolete. The corollary to this analysis is that present and planned UK coastal nuclear installations will be at significant risk,” says Dr Dorfman.

“Nuclear’s lower-carbon electricity unique selling point, sits in the context of the much larger picture – that UK coastal nuclear will be one of the first, and most significant, casualties to ramping climate impact. UK nuclear is quite literally on the front-line of climate change – and not in a good way.”

But the Nuclear Industry Association UK, claims that “no industry generates higher quality, more skilled and more secure jobs than the nuclear industry”.

More than 60,000 people across the country are employed in the civil nuclear sector, operating current power stations, decommissioning old ones and building new ones.

Decommissioning is an extremely complex, lengthy, and costly process. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority estimates it will cost British taxpayers over £130bn (€153.5bn) to decommission its civil nuclear sites and take around 120 years before these old sites are clean enough to be released for unrestricted use.

In the case of Sellafield and Dounreay, extensive contamination means this will never be possible.

What is the role of renewables in the UK?

Although nuclear power is often touted as the best way to tackle climate change, scientists like Dr Dorfman don’t believe that to be true.

He thinks the energy transition can and will take place using renewables like solar, wind and waves alone.

Due to technological advances, renewables are now a reliable energy source, even in times of low power input. Several countries, including Iceland and Norway, are already producing more than 90 per cent using these, and global renewable electricity capacity is forecast to increase dramatically by 2026.

This is equivalent to the current global power capacity of fossil fuels and nuclear combined.

Critics also claim time and costs involved with nuclear make it unviable. It can take up to 10-15 years plus, from planning to construction, and we need to act now, to prevent a climate emergency.

Renewables cost one fifth of new nuclear to build.

Renewables cost one fifth of new nuclear to build - since 2009, costs for utility-scale solar have dropped by 90 per cent, and wind by 70 per cent, while nuclear has increased by over 30 per cent.

Amory Lovins, energy expert and adviser to major firms and governments in more than 65 countries, sums this up when he says, “If climate’s a problem, we need to invest judiciously, not indiscriminately, to get the most solution per dollar, the most solution per year.

“Otherwise, we’re making things worse.”

## Historical Context of Germany's Nuclear Phase-Out

Germany's relationship with nuclear power has been complex and politically charged:

- **2001**: Chancellor Gerhard Schröder's government first announced plans to gradually phase out nuclear power.

- **2010**: Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right government reversed this decision, extending the operating lives of nuclear plants.

- **2011**: Following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, Merkel (a physicist by training) made a dramatic policy reversal, accelerating the nuclear phase-out with a deadline of end-2022.

- **2021-2022**: Germany shut down several nuclear plants, including the Brokdorf facility after 35 years of operation.

- **April 15, 2023**: Germany shut down its final three nuclear plants (Emsland, Isar 2, and Neckarwestheim II), marking the official end of its nuclear era.

This nuclear phase-out was driven by a strong anti-nuclear movement that emerged in the 1970s, which eventually gave birth to the Green Party—now part of the governing coalition.

For many Germans, opposition to nuclear power became a core principle based on safety concerns