On May 30, Germany’s coalition government announced plans to abandon nuclear power by 2022—outlining an ambitious strategy to ramp up renewable energy sources, in the wake of Japan's Fukushima disaster. The government had no immediate estimate of the overall cost of the transition.
The decision came in the wake of German Chancellor Angel Merkel’s decision on March 16 to postpone—at least for three months— the nation’s plans to extend the lifespan of its 17 atomic reactors, and to review all safety systems. Concurrently, neighboring Switzerland suspended its plans to build and replace nuclear plants and Austria's environment minister called for atomic stress tests to ensure that Europe's nuclear facilities are "earthquake-proof.”
Chancellor Angela Merkel said, “The events in Japan have shown us that even things that seem all but impossible scientifically can in fact happen." Referring to the fires, equipment failures, and releases of radioactive materials at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, following the 9.0 magnitude Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on March 11, Merkel, who holds a Ph.D. in physics, noted that, if such a disaster could not be averted in a highly advanced country like Japan, then nations worldwide should consider the ramifications.
Recent opinion polls showed that more than 70 percent of the German people are against keeping the reactors until the mid-2030s as was the original intent of a September 2010 energy plan backed by the coalition government.
Merkel hopes the transformation to more solar, wind, and hydroelectric power serves as a model for other countries. "We believe that we can show those countries who decide to abandon nuclear power -- or not to start using it -- how it is possible to achieve growth, creating jobs and economic prosperity while shifting the energy supply toward renewable energies," Merkel said. The renewable energy sector already employs about 370,000 people throughout Germany.
The plan sets Germany-- the world's fourth-largest economy and Europe's biggest -- apart from most of the other major industrialized nations. Among the other Group of Eight countries, only Italy has abandoned nuclear power, which was voted down in a referendum after the April 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
“Phasing out nuclear power within a decade will be a challenge, but it will be feasible and ultimately give Germany a competitive advantage in the renewable energy era,” Merkel said."As the first big industrialized nation, we can achieve such a transformation toward efficient and renewable energies, with all the opportunities that brings for exports, developing new technologies, and jobs," Merkel remarked at a press conference.
At the time of the Japanese disaster, Germany got just under a quarter of its electricity from nuclear power, about the same share as in the United States. While Germany already was set to abandon nuclear energy eventually, the decision -- which still requires parliamentary approval -- dramatically speeds up that process. Roettgen said there are no provisions that would allow a later policy reversal.
"We don't only want to renounce nuclear energy by 2022; we also want to reduce our CO2 emissions by 40 percent and double our share of renewable energies, from about 17 percent today to then 35 percent," the Chancellor said.
Merkel said the cornerstones of Germany's renewable energy policy also include a safe and steady power supply that doesn't rely on imports, and affordable prices for industry and consumers. The plan calls for more investment in natural gas plants as a backup to prevent blackouts.
Germany’s decision received a skeptical response from French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, whose country relies on nuclear power to produce 80 percent of its electricity supply. He insisted "there's no way" for the European Union to meet its emission-cutting targets without at least some nuclear power. "We respect this decision, but it doesn't cause us to change our policy." France operates more than one-third of the nuclear reactors in the European Union (EU).
Sweden's Environment Minister Andreas Carlgren also criticized the German decision, telling The Associated Press that the focus on an end date was unfortunate and could drive up electricity prices across Europe.
On the other hand, environmentalists praised the move. "The country is throwing its weight behind clean renewable energy to power its manufacturing base and other countries like Britain should take note," said Robin Oakley, Greenpeace UK's campaigns director.
Germany, usually a net energy exporter, has at times had to import energy since March. Still, the agency overseeing its electricity grid, DENA, said on May 27 that the country remains self-sufficient and that its renewable energy production capacity this spring peaked at 28 gigawatts (GW) — or about the equivalent of 28 nuclear reactors.
Germany's decision broadly follows the conclusions of a government-mandated commission on the ethics of nuclear power, which on May 28 delivered recommendations on how to abolish the technology."Fukushima was a dramatic experience, seeing there that a high-technology nation can't cope with such a catastrophe," Matthias Kleiner, the commission's co-chairman, said on May 30. "Nuclear power is a technology with too many inherent risks to inflict it on us or our children."
Cheryl Kaften is an accomplished communicator who has written for consumer and corporate audiences. She has worked extensively for MasterCard (News - Alert) Worldwide, Philip Morris USA (Altria), and KPMG, and has consulted for Estee Lauder and the Philadelphia Inquirer Newspapers. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
