What will happen to the three remaining nuclear power plants that are supposed to go offline at the end of 2022? Can Germany really do without nuclear power in a situation in which the war in Ukraine is leading to exorbitantly rising energy prices and a veritable energy crisis is threatening in winter? These questions have been discussed in Germany for months, and the political camps have positioned themselves.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) has now presented the results of a stress test to check whether the German power grid in all regions of the country can cope with the extreme conditions of a severe winter, which is characterized by high consumption and possibly also by a gas shortage. This would be an additional challenge for the power grid, because part of the gas imported into Germany, between ten and 15 percent, is used to generate electricity.
The experts in the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the transmission system operators are now recommending leaving two of the three German nuclear power plants in reserve beyond the end of the year. These are the two southern German piles Isar 2 in Bavaria and Neckarwestheim in Baden-Württemberg. In this context, Habeck speaks more precisely of an “operational reserve until mid-April 2023”. Both piles are intended to help cushion the “tense supply and grid situation in southern Germany”. The Emsland nuclear power plant, on the other hand, is scheduled to go offline at the end of the year. Although a crisis situation in the power grid is unlikely, it cannot be completely ruled out.
In surveys, a slim majority is in favor of the temporary continued operation of the nuclear power plants
“The security of supply in Germany is high. We have enough energy in Germany,” says Habeck at the beginning of his statement. However, there are various factors that are exacerbating the energy crisis, including the low level of the Rhine and the overall drought this summer. His ministry started the stress test on July 17 and calculated four scenarios, the parameters of which were continuously adjusted. Weather data from 2012 was used as a basis, as Werner Götz, head of the network operator Transnet BW, explains. That year was chosen because an extremely cold winter was recorded at that time.
For the Greens, an actual extension of the lifetime of nuclear power plants would be extremely unpleasant, because the party was founded in opposition to nuclear power. The SPD, party leader Saskia Esken reiterated on Monday, also wants operations to be stretched by a few months at best.
Opinion polls have recently suggested that a slim majority of citizens would be in favor of temporarily continuing to operate the nuclear power plants. The Union therefore sees an opportunity to put the Greens at a sensitive point. Party leader Friedrich Merz goes even further. He not only takes a look at the three nuclear power plants that are still in operation, but also calls for the three reactors that were shut down last year to continue operating. With six nuclear power plants “a total of 20 million households are initially safely supplied with electricity,” he said picture on sunday.
Similar demands keep coming from the FDP, most recently this Monday from party leader Christian Lindner. In an interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung he is in favor of leaving all three remaining nuclear power plants online until at least 2024 – regardless of the result of the stress test. “We shouldn’t be too picky, but allow everything that makes our lives easier, physically and economically,” said the FDP leader. With a view to the attitude of the Green coalition partner, Lindner says: “We also have to recognize that a very large majority of the population is now of the opinion that nuclear energy will make an important transitional contribution.”
The stress test brought “surprising results” for him, according to Habeck. Although the contribution is relatively small, the two nuclear power plants could make “a difference” for grid security in southern Germany.
Dispute in the traffic light coalition should be programmed. Because what Habeck is now proposing is something completely different than what Lindner and some in the FDP have in mind. At the press conference, the Economics Minister once again emphasized that the phase-out of nuclear power, as regulated in the Atomic Energy Act, will be adhered to. “I will do everything to ensure security of supply. But doing everything also means refraining from doing what is unnecessary.” Nuclear power is still a “high-risk technology”. Habeck therefore does not consider a blanket extension of the term to be justifiable. And he definitely doesn’t want to load the nuclear power plants with new fuel rods. “That would also be absurd, because nuclear energy is absurd and part of the problem,” said the minister.
The FDP reacted cautiously to Habeck’s announcement. “It is a matter of common sense to enable every climate-neutral kilowatt hour now,” writes the parliamentary manager of the parliamentary group, Johannes Vogel, on Twitter. But he adds: “Habeck’s emergency reserve is a step, but also appears as a political emergency exit.” The FDP maintains that the continued operation of all three remaining coal-fired power plants is necessary.
FDP parliamentary group leader Christian Dürr warns that it must be ensured that the remaining nuclear power plants can continue to feed in electricity. Legal questions remained to be clarified “in the coming days”, in particular whether an amendment to the Atomic Energy Act was necessary.
CSU regional group leader Alexander Dobrindt reacted with sharp criticism. “Obviously Federal Minister Habeck is not in a position to jump over his ideological shadow.” Anyone who is not prepared to “really rethink things in the current crisis, I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever in being able to lead Germany through this energy crisis,” said the CSU politician.
The deputy leader of the Union faction, Jens Spahn, criticized that keeping only two nuclear power plants in reserve was a fatal mistake and motivated by party politics. “In this crisis, these three nuclear power plants could deliver energy and electricity for Germany safely, reliably and affordably. And they should continue to do so for at least the next two winters,” said Spahn.