In mid-October, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that the operation of the country's last three nuclear power plants would be extended until spring 2023, due to the energy crisis.
However, in 2011, after the Fukushima disaster in Japan, Germany pledged to phase out nuclear power by 2022.
On the spot,
20 Minutes
went to question Walter Glöckle, the head of the nuclear department at the Ministry of the Environment of the Land of Baden-Württemberg.
He considers this “temporary” situation as “necessary”, but considers it “essential that Germany remains on the right track to phase out nuclear energy in the future”.
From our special correspondent in Germany,
It was scheduled for this year, but we will have to wait a few more months - maybe even longer - to witness the final exit from nuclear power in Germany.
In mid-October, after several months of negotiations within his coalition government, the Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, announced the extension of the last three power stations in the country still in operation until April 15, 2023. In the background: the crisis energy that affects Europe.
If the war in Ukraine is one of the main reasons given, France - and the reduction of its nuclear fleet - is also responsible, according to Walter Glöckle, the head of the nuclear department at the Ministry of the Environment of the Land of Baden-Württemberg. .
20 Minutes
went to meet this expert in the offices of his ministry, in Stuttgart.
What do you think of the German government's decision to extend the operation of the last three nuclear power plants in operation?
As a “green” Ministry of the Environment, we are not particularly proud of this decision.
But this is a special situation with the war in Ukraine.
This summer, the four operators of the German electricity network - 50Herz Transmission, Amprion, TenneT TSO and TransnetBW - carried out a "stress-test" to ensure the stability of the network during the winter of 2022-2023 and to determine the measures to be taken. in order to avoid energy crisis situations.
Even with the most severe hypotheses, there will be no "blackout".
What can happen, however, is network instability.
This is why the federal government has chosen to temporarily extend these three plants.
We therefore supported this position because it was necessary.
Does the population understand this decision?
Discussions around nuclear power have been part of the public debate for a very long time in Germany, with many arguments for and against.
I think the public understands that leaving three nuclear plants operating for three months would not be so harmful.
However, it is essential that we stay on track to gradually move out of this energy.
Because the German population pleads to accelerate the development of renewable energies.
They can make us more independent of fossil fuels.
Installed in sufficient quantities, they are mainly able to cover basic needs.
In other words, they are our best option for the future.
Can the government reconsider its decision and pursue nuclear power in the longer term?
I really think this is a temporary decision, which should last until April 15, 2023. Regarding winter 2023-2024, we have more time to prepare and avoid, like this year , to extend power stations.
Especially since the federal government has anticipated by launching many measures.
In some cases, they are already in place.
For example, Germany has decided to build a fifth floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal in the port of Wilhemshaven, on the North Sea.
Electricity networks have been reinforced to increase their transmission capacities, and coal-fired power stations have been extended until spring 2023.
Was this decision to extend three nuclear power plants taken because of the energy crisis or because of France?
The possible instability on the networks for which we must prepare this winter is linked to several things.
There is the increase in electricity and gas prices linked to the war in Ukraine.
It is also expected that there will not be enough energy production in Western Europe this winter, in particular because of the reduction in the French nuclear fleet.
According to the information to which we have had access, there are several problems in the French power stations.
First, corrosion.
Several cases of cracks were noted in the pipes, which led to the shutdown of reactors.
These are difficult problems to detect and repair.
The reactors concerned will take time to be put back into service.
Second, there was the coronavirus crisis.
Normally, France - and other countries - take advantage of the summer period, when there is less demand for electricity, to carry out maintenance or routine operations, such as refueling for the winter.
But with the confinement, this work has been delayed.
Some plants are currently closed to perform operations that should have been done before.
Has the war in Ukraine reshuffled the energy cards?
Before the Russian offensive in Ukraine, the German energy sector was heavily dependent on energy imports from Russia - coal, natural gas, crude oil.
Due to embargoes, reduced deliveries or the destruction of pipelines, these imports have been reduced or are about to be reduced.
Germany therefore had to find alternatives for these resources – in the case of natural gas, via other countries such as Norway, or in the form of liquefied natural gas.
Germany has also implemented significant energy saving measures to reduce industrial and household consumption.
This conflict has changed many things, but the importance of security of energy supply and the need for ecological transition are not new.
Rather, we have learned that change needs to happen faster than expected.
It is for this reason that the development of renewable energies must also be faster.
Should we fear a nuclear incident with this extension?
Nuclear is a high-risk energy.
It is unlikely that an incident will happen, but if it does, it can quickly be dramatic.
This is the reason why Germany decided, in 2001, to gradually put an end to nuclear power.
Since then, the plants have closed one after the other.
Only three remain - Isar 2 in Bavaria, Neckarwestheim in Baden-Württemberg and Emsland in Lower Saxony - which were due to be closed by the end of 2022. Eventually, they will remain in operation until spring.
The plants were safe so far, there's no reason why they shouldn't be for three more months.
On the other hand, safety remains a key nuclear issue.
Operators will have to provide the proof of safety necessary to operate these plants.
Will the gradual end of nuclear power plants not increase the use of coal-fired power plants?
It is true that coal-fired power plants generate high CO2 emissions.
As with nuclear, it is an energy that will have to be phased out as soon as possible.
Their closures were scheduled for 2038, and the new government has agreed to bring this deadline forward to 2030 to achieve its climate goals.
But the war in Ukraine changed the situation, we had to reopen some coal-fired power stations to guarantee our energy supply in the months to come.
However, I am hopeful that Germany will gradually phase out coal and that the country will accelerate the development of renewable energies.
We need a green, fossil-free future.
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