Nuclear energy has been a hot topic in Germany for decades, with flip-flopping decisions by successive governments. But things got really spicy when Germany decided to shut down its remaining nuclear plants in the face of the war in Ukraine, only to give them a 3 1/2 month extension due to the fear of not being able to power itself through the winter. Sigh, decisions, decisions.

But luckily for Germany, a mild winter and a natural gas rush, in addition to firing up those good old coal power plants, prevented any energy shortages. So, finally, the government decided to make good on their promise to end nuclear power. Economy and Energy Minister Robert Habeck had to reassure the public that they would still be fine without nuclear energy, and not to worry.

Well, what do you know? Germans still aren’t convinced. Polls show that a majority actually want to keep the reactors going, at least for now. In fact, some opposition is even coming from within Germany’s three-party governing coalition. It seems Germany has a hard time making up its mind, just like that friend who can never choose a restaurant for dinner.

Nuclear energy has been a contentious issue for Germany for over five decades. The anti-nuclear energy movement began in the 1970s with the famous yellow logo featuring the slogan, “Nuclear energy? No, thank you!” which originated in Denmark. The movement continued to gain momentum after the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, when radioactive clouds spread over Germany. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power was first made under Chancellor Gerhard Schröder, then later reversed during Chancellor Angela Merkel’s second term in office. But in 2011, the Fukushima nuclear disaster reignited public fears and Merkel announced plans to shut down all 17 of Germany’s remaining nuclear reactors by the end of 2022. That’s a lot of back and forth, like watching a tennis match.

But wait! Russia’s war in Ukraine cast fresh doubts on the decision to shut down the nuclear plants. Some government officials argued that the operation of the nuclear power plants was necessary for energy security and to avoid coal-fueled power. Meanwhile, the debate rages on.

It’s a bit of a head-scratcher that Germany would choose to shut down nuclear energy plants while other countries are investing in them. Even the Biden administration believes that boosting nuclear energy is important in combating climate change. Germany’s neighbor France is a prime example of a country that has long relied on nuclear energy, with almost 70% of its electricity coming from it last year. So it seems like a missed opportunity for Germany to not take advantage of nuclear energy like its neighbors.

Germany’s decision to shut down nuclear energy won’t have a significant impact on the country’s energy stability. The last three plants only accounted for a small part of Germany’s power production, and by October 2022, nuclear power was only providing 6% of the country’s electricity. Plus, nuclear energy can only generate electricity, not heating. Perhaps it’s time for Germany to invest more in other energy sources, like renewables.

The phaseout of nuclear energy won’t be a problem for Germany’s energy security in the short-term, but could put pressure on the system when it comes to phasing out coal-fueled energy in the long term. To make up for the loss of natural gas imports from Russia, Germany has quickly built LNG terminals on the northern coast and is speeding up the expansion of renewables. It’s a mad scramble, but Germany is determined to make it work.

As Germany shuts down its remaining nuclear power plants, the debate ramps up over what to do with the nuclear waste. A final storage space is supposed to have been found by 2031, but the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management has warned that it could take another 60 years to safely dispose of the nuclear waste. Oh boy, looks like Germany is going to need some serious help with that task.

All in all, after 50 years of protests, Germany’s closure of the three remaining plants is being widely celebrated by the country’s anti-nuclear movement. They projected the modified anti-nuclear logo at one of the plants in Emsland, northwestern Germany, which now reads: “Nuclear energy? Never again!” Looks like Germany will just have to find other ways to power itself. Good luck with that, Germany!

Serious News: washingtonpost