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Nuclear power stations off, nuclear import on! This is the headline of the German daily newspaper with the highest circulation on the day after the nuclear phase-out. And “Bild” calculates what the country has gained or lost, at least in the hours since the nuclear power plants were shut down. Four gigawatts (GW) went off the grid on April 15. Immediately after this historic step, Germany imported about 4.7 gigawatts more.
On March 19, the starting position was almost identical. That is why the German newspaper draws the following comparison. On both mornings, the electricity load in Germany was about 38 GW, with similar weather conditions. On both Sunday mornings, wind power was eight to nine GW, solar production was still close to 0 at dawn. But while Germany imported just 1.3 GW on the morning of March 19, by April 16 it had already imported more than six GW.
Buying cheaper nuclear energy than turning on power plants
What was switched off in terms of power generation, therefore, had to be imported from abroad immediately afterwards. And: electricity imports mainly came from French nuclear power plants, writes “Bild”. Electricity Map data showed that by 4 a.m. last Sunday morning, the French were supplying nuclear power for almost three percent of Germany’s energy needs.
Although Germany is Europe’s pioneer in phasing out nuclear energy, the country’s power supply would not be completely without nuclear energy. “Technically, thanks to its renewable energy sources and its gas and coal-fired power stations, Germany could provide for itself without nuclear energy,” says Volker Quaschning (53) in an interview with Blick, “but sometimes it is cheaper to buy electricity from abroad than to source it from home. set fire to power plants”.
If Germany were an island, it could be completely self-sufficient, says the professor for regenerative energy systems at the Berlin University of Applied Sciences. In a few years, solar and wind energy would secure most of the electricity supply, “in the event of a power failure, Germany will certainly continue to buy cheap nuclear energy from abroad from time to time”.
Germany usually exported more electricity than it imported
The fact that Germany imported nuclear energy from France on Sunday morning was for purely economic reasons and has to do with the supply in the European grid. At that time, France also had solar and wind energy and could offer cheap energy. “Germany actually always exported more electricity than it imported. The export share will initially decrease,” says Quaschning.
Twelve of the 27 EU countries remain dependent on nuclear energy. They extend the life of their reactors or build new nuclear power plants, reports WDR. With 56 reactors, France is the second largest producer of nuclear energy in the world after the US. Germany’s immediate neighbor is also looking into building another 14 nuclear power plants. However, 20 reactors have been operating for more than 40 years.
European neighbors depend on nuclear energy
In the energy crisis, Poland plans to move into nuclear power and wants to build six new nuclear power plants. The Netherlands intends to connect two new reactors to the grid over the next twelve years. New nuclear power plants are also currently being built in Great Britain, Hungary and Slovakia. Countries such as Sweden and Belgium want their power plants to run longer than planned. Germany’s decision is therefore more political than pragmatic.
In view of the reactor disaster in Fukushima (Japan), Germany decided in 2011 to withdraw on all sides and in a social consensus, says Volker Quaschning, “now it’s done”.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
