20th April 2023: Why did they do it? What will they do now? Are they planning to switch back to fossil fuel? Why is everyone unhappy? A ReferencePepper!
On April 15th, Germany shut down its three remaining nuclear facilities, trusting that it can achieve its environmental goals without atomic energy despite the energy crisis brought on by the conflict in Ukraine.
The Isar 2 complex in Bavaria and the Emsland plant in the north will soon be distant memories, as will the cloud of white steam that has been rising over the river in Neckarwestheim, close to Stuttgart, since 1989.
Even while not everyone agrees, Europe's largest economy is firmly holding on to its objectives at a time when many Western nations are increasing nuclear power as part of their move to cleaner energy sources.
What's the history behind the decision to shut down?
Germany has witnessed anti-nuclear protests which started way back in 1970s when local groups managed to stop the construction of a plant in Wyhl.
There were a few small incidents between 1975 and 1987 which led to local contamination and radiation emission. The fear of working in and living in the presence of Nuclear plants increased among the citizens.
The Three Mile Island disaster, which occurred on March 28, 1979, was a partial meltdown of the Unit 2 reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania, USA. It resulted from a combination of mechanical malfunctions, design-related problems, and human error, causing a release of radioactive gases into the atmosphere. Although there were no immediate deaths or injuries, the incident strengthened the activists cause of not allowing Nuclear plants to be built and operated in Germany.
The Chernobyl disaster in 1986 was like the worst fear coming true. The accident had a large impact on Germany and contaminated many areas with radiation.
The Chernobyl disaster, which occurred on April 26, 1986, in Ukraine, was a catastrophic nuclear accident that resulted in the release of a massive amount of radioactive materials into the atmosphere. It was caused by a combination of flawed reactor design and human error during a safety test at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant. The explosion and subsequent fire led to immediate deaths, long-term health impacts, and extensive environmental contamination. The disaster remains the worst nuclear power plant accident in history.
The Chernobyl disaster did have an impact on Germany, albeit to a lesser extent compared to the countries closer to the site of the accident, such as Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia.
The radioactive materials released into the atmosphere from the Chernobyl explosion were carried by wind and deposited in various areas, including Germany. In the aftermath of the disaster, Germany experienced radioactive contamination of its soil, vegetation, and foodstuffs, particularly in the southern parts of the country.
Picture source: AP
The Chernobyl disaster had significant social and political impacts in Germany, as it fueled public concerns about the safety of nuclear energy and led to increased scrutiny of nuclear power plants. It contributed to the anti-nuclear movement in Germany, leading to stricter regulations, phasing out of nuclear power.
The Fukushima accident1, which occurred on March 11, 2011, was a catastrophic nuclear disaster that took place in Fukushima, Japan. It was triggered by a massive earthquake (magnitude 9.0) and tsunami that resulted in a triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The disaster led to widespread radioactive contamination, displacement of thousands of people, and significant environmental, social, and economic impacts. It raised global concerns about the safety of nuclear energy and highlighted the need for robust safety measures in the operation of nuclear power plants. The Fukushima accident remains one of the worst nuclear disasters in history, serving as a stark reminder of the potential risks and consequences associated with nuclear power generation.
Source: https://peaceandhealthblog.com
But It was not only the large-scale disasters such as Chernobyl that were Germany’s only concern.
The nuclear waste was also a concern with the citizens. Even though a proposal was made to use salt mines in Gorleben as storage for nuclear waste, protests would still break out when waste was brought to the Gorleben for interim storage.
Germany has been attempting to gradually eliminate nuclear energy since 2002, but former chancellor Angela Merkel pushed the plan in 2011 following the Fukushima accident1 in Japan.
However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 posed a threat to derail the plans by ending the country's access to inexpensive Russian gas and causing an unparalleled energy crisis.
Jochen Winkler, the mayor of Neckarwestheim said, “With high energy prices and the hot topic of climate change, there have of course been calls to extend the power plants.”
A few months before Germany's final three plants were shut down on December 31, 2022, public sentiment started to change. The vehemently anti-nuclear Greens, who are a part of the Olaf Scholz government, decided that they would extend the life of the plants until April 15. Around 150 people from Neckarwestheim's 4,000 residents work at the facility, but Winkler is unaffected by the choice.
Germany has shut down sixteen reactors since 2003.
But the citizens are divided. Anti Nuclear vs Environmental activists
Environmental activists are furious because Germany won't be able to reach its own goals at the current rate of advancement in renewable energy.
With an eight percent increase last year to make up for the loss of Russian gas after Moscow stopped supply in reaction to Western sanctions over its invasion of Ukraine, coal still makes about a third of Germany's energy generation.
So how will they achieve their aim of being Carbon Neutral by 2045?
When Germany revised its Climate Action Act in 2021, it pledged to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 65% by 2030 (compared with 1990 levels) and to make Germany carbon-neutral by 2045.
The German government’s Climate Action Programme 2030 – together with an Immediate Climate Action Programme for 2022 that was adopted in June 2021 – is designed to ensure that Germany meets its climate targets. The individual measures contained in these two programmes are being implemented step by step in the form of legislation and funding programmes.
As per World Economic Forum report published on 18th January 2023, German Chancellor Scholz Lays Out Roadmap to Climate Neutrality by 2045.
The German chancellor said for 2023, the country had more than doubled the volume of calls for tender for onshore wind farms alone. “By 2030, 80% of our electricity production will come from renewable sources, double what it is at present,” he said. “At the same time, our electricity requirements are increasing from 600 terawatt hours today to 750 by the end of the decade, and we are expecting them to double yet again in the 2030s.”
Germany aims to be carbon neutral by 2045.