Germany Shutters Its Last Nuclear Power Plants, Becoming More Reliant onFossil Fuel Energy
https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/04/germany-shutters-its-last-nuclear-power-plants-becoming-more-reliant-onfossil-fuel-energy/We have been following energy issues in Europe, especially in Germany. The nation is an economic powerhouse for the continent and had a very challenging time meeting grid demands during a chilly winter.
Despite the problems in making supply meet demand, the nation decided it was wise to proceed with a decision made in 2011 to Germany has now shuttered its last remaining nuclear power plants.
The shutdown of Germany’s last remaining nuclear reactors over the weekend means the country’s power producers have no option but to further accelerate their ongoing energy system overhaul.
With natural gas supplies still severely constrained following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year, the reactor shutdowns mean that two key sources of baseload power have now been disrupted or cut off to Europe’s largest economy.
Somewhat offsetting the shake-ups in Germany’s nuclear and gas markets has been a steady surge in renewable energy supplies from solar and wind sites, which generated nearly 40% more electricity in 2022 than nuclear and natural gas sources combined, according to data from think tank Ember.
However, the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources – which leaves them susceptible to sudden drops during cloudy or windless periods – means Germany’s electricity system remains vulnerable to shortages and potential price volatility, despite the growing share of renewables in the generation mix.
Germany has become more reliant on fossil fuels for power.
