nuclear-news

German government concludes that it is unwise to extend the life of its remaining nuclear power stations

Germany’s government has concluded that prolonging the runtime of its
remaining nuclear power plants is not advisable even in the current energy
crisis sparked by the Russian invasion on Ukraine. “Following a
cost-benefit analysis, a longer runtime for the three remaining nuclear
plants is not advisable even in light of the current gas crisis,” a
report drafted by the two Green Party-led ministries for climate and
economy (BMWK) and for the environment and nuclear safety (BMUV) found.

Extending the remaining plants’ runtime could only make a rather small
contribution to energy security and increase costs elsewhere, the
ministries said. “The state would have to shoulder immense risks. This
would not be appropriate.”

It further found that even if the runtime is
extended, refueling problems would mean the plants could only deliver
additional electricity by autumn 2023. The plants would have to run
somewhere between three and five years longer to make investments in staff
and infrastructure pay off and necessary security checks would further
complicate relying on the nuclear plants as a quick fix. Within that time
frame, “other options will be available to guarantee a secure power
supply despite a shortage of natural gas,” the report said.

Moreover, lawsuits against changes to the current nuclear phase-out plan would likely
be successful, the ministries added.

 Clean Energy Wire 8th March 2022

https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/extending-nuclear-plants-runtime-not-advisable-german-govt-concludes

March 10, 2022 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Greece, politics