Questions and answers about transforming the energy system

Nuclear energy

1. What were the most important reasons why the Federal Government decided to phase out nuclear power completely by 2022?

   The impacts of the recent earthquake on Japan's nuclear power stations sparked a change in attitudes toward nuclear energy use in Germany. In light of those events, the Federal Government, acting in agreement with the Minister-Presidents of those Länder in which nuclear power stations are operated, had the reactor safety commission, working in close co-operation with the competent nuclear supervisory authorities of the Länder, conduct a safety review of all German nuclear power stations. In addition, working via an ethics commission on "a safe energy supply" ("Sichere Energieversorgung"), it launched a societal discourse on the risks of use of nuclear power and on the potential for making an accelerated transition into the age of renewable energies. The reactor safety commission found that Germany's nuclear power stations are highly robust facilities. The ethics commission found that the reality of a reactor accident has a substantial impact on the way the risks of nuclear-power use are assessed, and that the possibility that such an accident could prove unmanageable is of central importance in Germany's national framework. Also taking account of the findings of those commissions, the Federal Government decided to phase out use of nuclear power for commercial electricity generation at the earliest possible time - on a staggered schedule. To that end, on 30 June 2011, the German Bundestag (parliament) passed the Thirteenth Act amending the Atomic Energy Act (Dreizehntes Gesetz zur Änderung des Atomgesetzes). That act then entered into force on 6 August 2011.

2. What is the schedule for the phase-out?

   We plan to phase out nuclear-power use for commercial electricity generation in Germany gradually, and completely, by no later than the end of 2022. The country's seven oldest nuclear power stations, which were already shut down during a provisional three-month operational shutdown period, and the Krümmel nuclear power station, will now remain permanently decommissioned. The final dates for the other nuclear power stations are as follows: 2015, Grafenrheinfeld; 2017, Gundremmingen B; 2019, Philippsburg 2; 2021, Grohnde, Gundremmingen C and Brokdorf; and 2022, the three youngest nuclear power stations, Isar 2, Emsland and Neckarwestheim 2.

3. How will the decision for phase-out of nuclear power in Germany affect Germany's energy concept?

   The energy concept will remain the guideline for future German energy policy. The change in energy policy was already enshrined in Germany's "Energy Concept 2010" ("Energiekonzept 2010"). The aims and the orientation of that energy concept remain in place. Relevant measures - especially measures relative to network expansion, to expansion of wind-energy use and to upgrades of the country's power-station sector - are now being implemented on an accelerated schedule, however. Numerous studies have found that transforming Germany's energy sector, without any reliance on nuclear power, is possible and can, in the long term, offer major opportunities and economic benefits. In the medium term, the gap in Germany's electricity supply resulting from decommissioning of nuclear power stations is to be compensated for by new, efficient fossil-fuel power stations; by expansion in use of renewable energies, and by improved market integration of such energies; and by improvements in energy efficiency.

4. Will the decommissioning of all nuclear power plants by 2022 result in final clarification of the questions about a final repository for Germany's nuclear waste as well?

   Following last year's decision to speed up the phasing out of nuclear energy for commercial production of electricity, it is now time to take a more urgent look at the problem of final storage of radioactive waste that generates heat. This is the responsibility of the generations that use nuclear energy. A location for a final repository for heat-generating radioactive waste is to be identified in a scientific search procedure based on transparency and public participation, and determined in legislation enacted by the two houses of parliament (Bundestag and Bundesrat). The German government will put forward a proposal for legislation on this issue.

5. How does Germany plan to fill the 23-percent gap in its electricity supply that will result from decommissioning of nuclear power stations?

   At present, Germany is able to fill the gap caused by current nuclear power station shutdowns, with the aid of existing reserves and moderate imports. In spring 2011, for example, a total of 12 out of 17 nuclear power plants were shut down for a short time. Germany's power supply remained assured even during the particularly cold January of 2012. On most days, substantial quantities of electricity were actually exported to France, because the nuclear-based production capacity there was not sufficient. The generating capacities of the remaining nuclear power plants that will gradually go offline in the period through 2022, capacities that in the past generated some 23 percent of the country's electricity, are to be compensated for via a mix consisting of additional renewables-based capacities; construction of additional fossil-fuel power stations (including already planned power stations) - ideally, power stations with combined heat and power (CHP) generation; considerable gains in energy efficiency; and intensified use of the potential inherent in the international electricity network.

6. What costs will accelerated phase-out of nuclear power entail?

   The phase-out will not be free of charge. Current studies point to medium-range electricity-price increases, i.e. increases directly attributable to the accelerated phase-out, of the order of no more than one cent per kilowatt-hour. To date, however, the price-raising effects have yet to make themselves felt. On the contrary: since summer 2011 the trading price on the electricity exchange has fallen steadily and has at times reached a five-year low. On a European comparison the price of electricity on the German exchange was lower than in France or Switzerland, which both use a large proportion of nuclear power, thanks to the feed-in of large quantities of (free) wind and solar electricity. CO₂ prices have also fallen, at times by as much as 70 percent. This makes it clear that the price effects of the energy system transformation have been obscured by other effects, e.g. crises and weather influences. Up to now, the transformation of the energy system has not yet had any price-raising effects on the energy market. Many electricity suppliers have nevertheless raised their prices in recent months. However, consumers have the opportunity to change their supplier even at short notice. In that light, the Federal Government is seeking to make the transition into the renewable-energies age feasible and economically sustainable.

7. Is Germany actually capable of taking the measures (legislative, infrastructure, economic) needed if it is to cope with the phasing out of nuclear energy by 2022?

   The phasing out of nuclear energy constitutes a fundamental transformation of the energy system in Germany. Everyone will have to do their bit. A start has been made on the requisite legal measures. However, it is also decisive that the population accepts the changes that are being made: new power lines, new conventional power plants and the expansion of renewable energies. In addition to this, every single consumer has numerous opportunities, by making sensible and efficient use of energy, to consume less energy while maintaining their standard of living.

8. What should be done to prevent Germany importing electricity from nuclear power plants in other countries in future?

   Importing electricity from nuclear power plants in other countries is not an alternative and has not taken place in appreciable quantities in the past. Modern, highly efficient coal and gas-fired power plants will facilitate the more rapid transition to a power supply based on renewable energies. Nevertheless, electricity will continue to be imported and exported because Germany is part of the European internal electricity market. Even so, electricity from renewable energies will enjoy priority.

9. Will the accelerated phase-out have an impact on Germany's climate protection objectives?

   In principle, phase-out of nuclear-power use for commercial electricity generation is climate-neutral - when seen from a European-wide perspective. On the one hand, the phase-out will lead to higher CO₂ emissions in Germany's electricity sector. At the same time, that increase will be completely offset by emissions trading in other sectors, in both Germany and Europe. As a result, greenhouse-gas emissions in Europe will remain constant, even in the short term, because emissions trading establishes an EU-wide cap on greenhouse-gas emissions. What is more, the EU-wide cap was defined also in the light of the original German decision to phase-out nuclear power. The German climate protection objectives remain completely valid.

10. What impact will the change in energy policy have on Germany's ambitious climate protection objectives? Can they be maintained?

    We plan to achieve our national climate protection objectives even with accelerated phase-out of nuclear power use. In the short term, CO₂ emissions in Germany's electricity sector may rise. In the medium term, they will decrease all the more markedly, however, as more and more old, CO₂-intensive power stations are replaced with new plants for electricity generation from wind, the sun, biomass and water power, as well as by highly efficient, quick-response fossil-fuel power stations. That conclusion is supported by the energy-scenario calculations the Federal Government commissioned in connection with preparation of its energy concept.

11. Germany's fast phase-out of nuclear power is primarily a reaction to the Fukushima disaster. In terms of safety, what is the point of shutting down German nuclear power stations when other European countries are still using nuclear power?

    Germany has always placed high priority on having an independent, safe energy supply system, and that policy has been a great success. For a major industrialised, export-intensive country such as Germany, which has few natural resources, is densely populated and must rely on technology, there is no substitute for such a policy. That policy does not conflict either with our integration within the European Single Market or with our energy trading with our neighbours. A large market such as the Single Market presents a great many advantages in terms of prices, supply reliability, network stability, use of renewable energies and dissemination of efficiency technologies. Every country has the right to choose its own energy policies within the European context. As Germany makes the changeover in its energy system, Germany's future role will be to highlight alternatives to use of nuclear power and of fossil fuels - and, thus, to inspire others to take a similar approach.

12. After the Chernobyl disaster, Germany put its own nuclear plans on hold, while some of its neighbours strongly expanded their nuclear sectors. After Fukushima, can we see any similar development in the European Union? Isn't Germany's decision to discontinue use of nuclear power an over-hasty, emotional decision?

    With its energy concept, and over the past year, Germany has decided to base its future energy supply on renewable energies. That decision is backed by a broad societal consensus in Germany. As a consequence of our decision to accelerate the phase-out of nuclear-power use, we will now have to considerably accelerate the transformation of our energy-supply system. While that requirement presents major challenges, it also holds out new opportunities. The decisive reasons for entering into the new policy are rational ecological, economic and ethical reasons. The profound restructuring of our energy system will provide opportunities for later generations. Nonetheless, it will not be easy, in practice, to carry out the transformation. But if we accept the challenge, the transformation will open up new technological and economic perspectives for Germany's competitiveness as an industrial centre and as an exporting country (for example, in the fields of energy-efficient products, renewable energies and highly efficient power stations). Every country has the right to choose its own energy policies. At present, 14 of the EU's 27 Member States operate nuclear power stations.

13. EU Commissioner Oettinger has stated that Germany's nuclear phase-out can only succeed in combination with significant improvements in Germany's energy infrastructure. What impacts will Germany's decision have on its European neighbours?

    Expansions of Germany's energy infrastructure (networks, power stations, storage facilities) will play a key role in the transformation of our energy system. For that reason, the energy concept provides for an entire range of measures aimed at accelerating necessary infrastructure improvements. Furthermore, the energy package now approved includes important measures relative to accelerated expansion (especially) of networks and of combined heat and power (CHP) generation. In future, Germany will continue to work toward the aim of maintaining the necessary capacities in order to be able to meet all of its own electricity requirements. At the same time, Germany is located in the heart of the EU Single Market, in which trans-boundary electricity trading, with the electric-load flows that entails, is an everyday reality.

14. Does Germany plan to try to convince other countries to phase-out nuclear power as well?

    Every country has the right to choose its own energy policies. In the framework of its international co-operation, Germany will continue to work for the highest possible safety standards in nuclear-power use, and it will continue to participate in relevant international exchanges. As Germany makes the changeover in its energy system, Germany's future role will be to highlight alternatives to use of nuclear power - and thus to inspire others to take a similar approach.

15. Even the final phasing out of nuclear power in 2022 will not protect us from accidents that may occur elsewhere in Europe. Is Germany embarking upon an expensive, but ineffective course of unilateral action?

    Germany is setting standards with its Energy Concept - for the EU and the whole world. The German Federal Chancellor, Angela Merkel, placed nuclear safety on the agenda at the G8 Summit in 2011. Many countries are emulating our example and taking a long, hard look at their nuclear power plants. As a reaction to the accident in Fukushima, the EU reached agreement on a stress test for all European nuclear power plants. The results of this targeted review of safety margins in the light of the events in Fukushima will be presented to the European Council in mid 2012. They are intended to identify ways of improving the safety of nuclear power plants in Europe under the responsibility of the individual Member States, and thereby increasing the protection given to the people of Europe. The German government adopted the amendment to the Nuclear Energy Act (Atomgesetz) which entered into force on 6 August 2011 in order to accelerate the phasing out of power generation from nuclear energy. It will respect the decisions taken by other states that wish to continue using nuclear energy. In any case, it is necessary to analyse the risks of accidents comprehensively and control them as effectively as possible. Germany will therefore continue to contribute its experience and skills internationally to ensure accidents are prevented.

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