Germany: how to save the remaining six nuclear power plants

In the face of the imminent shutdown of three german nuclear plants in january 2022 and the switch-off of the remaining three plants in 2023, experts contemplate how to save them in order to meet the climate goals and also preserve energy security for Germany, writes WELT:

Time is running out. In a good eight weeks, three of the last six German nuclear power plants will be shut down, and the rest will follow in 14 months. That is more than all solar systems installed since the beginning of the energy transition provide. What is switched off there has so far contributed to clean electricity generation in Germany about as much as 15,000 of the total of 30,000 wind turbines.

A gigatonne of CO2 could be saved if the reactors were to continue to operate, have calculated technology-oriented climate protection associations such as “Öko-Moderne e.V.”. Such organizations have come together to form the “saveger6” initiative, an abbreviation for “save Germany’s six”, to “rescue” the last six German nuclear power plants.

One gigatonne of CO2 is a significant amount. After all, the Federal Constitutional Court stipulated that Germany as a whole and for all time only has a CO2 budget of 8.7 gigatons available - and according to the ruling, this must be shared with future generations.

In view of this restriction and against the background of a rapidly increasing demand for electricity, it could seem almost unconstitutional to shut down a CO2-free power source of this size - but where no plaintiff, there no judge. The public debate in Germany is so poisoned that no politician or scientist dares to advocate the continued operation of the systems: Because under the music of well-orchestrated shitstorms on social media, social ostracism threatened.

This is probably one of the reasons why two formerly high-ranking energy managers do not want to be named who wrote down for WELT what would be necessary to save the six reactors that are due to be shut down for climate protection. A guideline that only works if the new federal government follows it at short notice.

Because in particular with regard to the shutdown of three nuclear power plants, which is due to be shut down at the end of this year, “the course must be corrected as soon as possible”. According to the model of the climate policy "immediate programs" demanded by the Greens and environmental activists, the new federal government would also have to agree on an immediate nuclear policy program. Politically, that's unrealistic. But if it is not implemented, the achievement of the German climate targets by 2030 will be exactly that: unrealistic.

According to the guidelines, the new government would first have to amend, i.e. rewrite, the Atomic Energy Act. In particular, paragraph 7, which stipulates the term limitation, would have to be changed. A “public law contract” would also have to guarantee continuous terms and secure necessary investments.

Such a treaty would be necessary because it would also bind subsequent governments. Otherwise, simple changes in the law would quickly be reversed. Such back and forth occurred more often during Angela Merkel's reign. Since then, there has been no trust in the durability of political decisions - and prevents almost any type of investment in power plants to secure the energy transition.

One hurdle would be the willingness of the nuclear power plant operators: After the disastrous experiences they had in dealing with political risks, they would not get involved without further ado, say the experts, who have been active in the nuclear power industry for a long time, but are no longer. "Politicians would have to make suggestions very quickly and convincingly so that the operators can keep their staff on board," says the guideline.

The operators of the remaining six nuclear power plants in Germany - RWE, the E.on offshoot PreußenElektra and EnBW - had declared that they would not consider extending the operating times. If you stick with the decision, there would be only one solution, explain the experts: The state would have to take over the running nuclear power plants.

Only at first glance do state-owned power plants appear to be foreign bodies that are contrary to the system in the German energy market, which was liberalized in 1998 by the then Federal Minister of Economics Günter Rexrodt (FDP). In reality, however, there are already a large number of coal and gas power plants that “do not participate in the market”, as it is called in technical jargon, but continue to be operated purely in accordance with legal requirements and sometimes against the will of their owners.

One hurdle would be the willingness of the nuclear power plant operators: After the disastrous experiences they had in dealing with political risks, they would not get involved without further ado, say the experts, who have been active in the nuclear power industry for a long time, but are no longer. "Politicians would have to make suggestions very quickly and convincingly so that the operators can keep their staff on board," says the guideline.

The advancing global warming calls for a “re-evaluation of the risks” of CO2-intensive energy technology. Nuclear power should be preferred to climate-damaging gas and coal power as a bridge to renewable energies. Operational nuclear power plants would be given priority. The easiest way to ensure power supply and keep energy costs under control is with the nuclear power plant already running.

In circles of the FDP, who advocate an extension of the terms, the proposals reap reluctance. With the issue, the coalition partners would provoke the Greens and question their willingness to compromise on other issues, it is said. Hopefully, however, after the formation of a government, at least three nuclear power plants could be saved next year.