Germany: Return to Nuclear Power Is Unthinkable
Nuclear power is at the center of controversy in Germany ahead of the February 23 election
According to the CEO of German energy supplier RWE, Markus Krebber (pictured), “a return to nuclear power in Germany is unthinkable,” as proposed in the election debate by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). This is not because Krebber is against nuclear power, but only because the old German nuclear power plants are outdated and unsafe.
“The time of Germany’s three nuclear power plants, which accounted for 6% of Germany’s electricity production, has passed,” said Krebber, according to whom “if the three reactors are restarted, there will be long approval processes, huge investments in modernization, and the development of a skilled operational team.”
Even the construction of modern nuclear power plants will not solve the problem of a sharp shortage of electricity in the country: “Building a new station takes up to a decade or more and requires tens of billions of euros, and the state will therefore have to assume this economic risk.”
Although Germany’s energy transition is slowing, gas consumption in the European country rose 5.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. According to data released on Tuesday, December 31, by the Federal Network Control Agency (BNETZA), compared to the same period last year, German industry recorded a 9.1% increase in consumption, while households and SMEs saw consumption growth of around 2 percent. The gas storage facilities are now 78-80% full, but the situation risks worsening after Ukraine’s decision to block the transit of Russian gas to Europe starting January 1, 2025.
