Two nuclear power plants as a reserve: The next traffic light dispute

The Greens and SPD support Economics Minister Habeck’s plans to leave two of the three nuclear power plants still in operation connected to the grid as emergency reserves. The FDP, Union and an economic system see things differently.

The decision by Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck to keep two of the three nuclear power plants still in operation as a reserve caused discussions in the ranks of the traffic light coalition. The coalition partner FDP criticized the decision in part severely.

“We have to extend the terms, otherwise there is a risk of absurd costs for consumers,” said Christian Dürr, leader of the FDP parliamentary group, in the “Bild” newspaper. The proposals were not enough to reduce electricity prices.

“The results of the stress test are worth little because the assumptions are too optimistic,” says Michael Kruse, spokesman for energy policy for the FDP parliamentary group. The assumptions are politically determined and not derived from reality.

Economy: Think about extending the term

The economist Veronika Grimm argues similarly. “Due to the price development on the electricity market, everything must be done to mobilize generation capacities that can be made available at short notice,” she told the newspapers of the Funke media group.

According to Grimm, the three nuclear power plants that are still in operation should be running and not just kept as emergency reserves. A five-year extension should be considered. In addition, it should be checked whether recently decommissioned nuclear power plants could be reactivated.

Habeck defends the project

Habeck himself has resolutely countered concerns that there could be power shortages in Germany in winter. “The German energy supply is secure, we have enough energy and our network is also secure,” emphasized the Green politician in an interview with the daily topics.

The decision to keep the two nuclear power plants Isar 2 and Neckarwestheim 2 in reserve is an important safeguard against bottlenecks. Because the scenarios that the network operators ran through in their stress test are potential scenarios that can occur – critical situations are unlikely.

“We play it safe and do it very precisely,” Habeck explained the decision. If the scenarios played out in the stress test do not occur, “then we will end the life of the nuclear power plants as planned”.

Robert Habeck, Federal Minister of Economics, on the results of the network operator stress test

daily topics 11:00 p.m., 6.9.2022

Greens want to discuss plans in the party

Within the Greens there is support for Habeck. The faction leaders Britta Haßelmann and Katharina Dröge welcomed the plans. These should still be discussed in the party.

Co-Chairman Omid Nouripour announced that he would promote it to the Greens. According to Nouripour, not only would arms deliveries to Ukraine be put to the vote at the party congress, but also the limited nuclear power reserve. In the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” the co-chairman Ricarda Lang ruled out turning away from the nuclear phase-out.

The SPD supports Habeck

The SPD also supports its coalition partner. Group Vice President Matthias Miersch described the result of the stress test as “a good basis for fact-based and careful advice”.

He would also like such advice from those who are crying out for an extension of the term even before the results are announced, said Miersch. “The stress test shows: Atom is not the general solution that many people want.”

Merz accuses the Greens of campaign tactics

There is criticism from the opposition: Union leader Friedrich Merz accuses the Greens of campaign tactics in the case of the Emsland nuclear power plant, which is to be shut down at the end of the year.

“The Greens in the traffic lights in Berlin have obviously been put under pressure by the Greens in Lower Saxony to shut down the Emsland nuclear power plant against all reason,” said the CDU politician to the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung”. Green sensitivities are more important than the risk of a power failure, according to Merz.