German Parliament Approves Plans for Nuclear Exit by 2022

[pampango]

Source: Inhabitat

The aftermath of the Fukishima disaster saw people all over the world ponder the potential effects of nuclear power. German citizens have been particularly vocal in their criticism, and now after re-examining the country’s 17 nuclear reactors, Chancellor Merkel and the German parliament have announced concrete plans to phase out nuclear energy by 2022, making the country the first major industrial power to take such steps since Japan’s devastating incident.

The plan was approved in the Bundesrat upper house, which represents Germany’s 16 regional states. The scheme had previously passed the Bundestag lower house with an overwhelming majority vote.

Germany had already taken action in the wake of the Japanese disaster by switching off their seven oldest reactors, and another reactor has been shut down for years due to technical problems. Now Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced plans to officially phase out the remaining nine reactors between 2015 and 2022. The decision, which has come faster than anyone predicted, is sure to find support in Germany where a large number of citizens oppose nuclear power due to the potentials risk involved. Thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators marched in the streets after Fukushima demanding that the country switch to other sources of power.

As a result, Merkel, who was pro-nuclear, has made a dramatic u-turn after initially extending the operation of the country’s 17 reactors. Of course, there is a drawback — the phase-out of nuclear power plants will mean the construction of new coal and gas power plants, despite the government’s assurance it will still meet its target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2020 from 1990 levels, and by 80-95 percent by 2050.

Read more: http://inhabitat.com/german-parliament-approves-plans-for-nuclear-exit-by-2022/

[kristopher]

1. There is no reliable evidence that new coal will be part of the transition.

Merkel's governing rightwing coalition is calling for it, but there have been nearly 20 coal plants stalled in the planning stage for a long time because they are blocked by the local governments. Yes the utilities will try to make it happen and Merkel will assist them, but you saw how long her plan to extend the lifetime of the nuclear fleet lasted, didn't you?

This is far more likely to be the path they follow. From the Green section of the Environment Ministry (put out without the authorization of the RW Minister). Note how they respond directly to the media coverage that is being generated by the pronuclear/procoal business interests.

"We Can Do It" Says German Environment Agency on Nuclear Phase Out

...Ironically, the conservative Merkel government has proposed the exit policy implemented by the previous red-green government of Social Democrats and the Greens. Merkel's conservative party rose to power in part on a platform of extending the operation of the existing reactors. Her policy on extending the reactors operating lives was tabled shortly before the Fukushima accident. The policy reversal is historic not only in Germany, but worldwide.
Critics of the reversal have charged that:
-Germany will suffer power outages
-Germany will import nuclear power from other countries, notably France
-Germany will build massive new coal plants to make up the shortfall
The analysis by the German environment agency was undertaken to specifically examine these questions.

They concluded that Germany can close the reactors within five years and do so:
-Without power outages
-Without importing nuclear power from other countries
-Without building new coal plants -With only a modest increase in the cost of electricity
The agency says that Germany can close the nuclear plants by faster development of its renewable sources of energy and the construction of 5,000 MW of new gas-fired generation. The new gas-fired generation will give the grid the necessary flexibility to meet demand while also preserving Germany's commitment to reducing its carbon dioxide emissions.

To the surprise of many critics of Germany's renewable energy program, the country is not a net importer of electricity. In recent years, Germany has been a net exporter of generation.

UBA's study found that electricity imports to Germany are based on price and not ...

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/06/we-can-do-it-says-german-environment-agency-on-nuclear-phase-out?cmpid=WNL-Friday-%20June10-2011

[Cereal Kyller]

2. Jesus!

That title scared the SHIT outta me!

[Bella Boo]

3. Kudos to the Germans

It's good to see a nation against nuclear power!