Germany has shut down its last three nuclear reactors, marking the end of its nuclear age. Despite the trend among many Western countries to invest in nuclear energy to reduce emissions, Germany has been looking to leave behind nuclear power since 2002. The phase-out was accelerated by former chancellor Angela Merkel in 2011.
It’s “the end of an era,” the RWE energy firm said shortly after midnight, confirming the three reactors had been disconnected from the electricity grid.
The challenging energy situation caused by the war in Ukraine has increased calls domestically for delaying nuclear exit. However, Germany has filled gas stores and built new infrastructure to import liquefied natural gas to bridge the gap left by Russian supplies.
Germany aims to produce 80% of its energy from renewables by 2030. Still, experts warn that the current rate of progress on renewables may need to be faster for Germany to meet its climate protection goals.
Despite planning to exit nuclear, Germany has not “pushed ahead enough with the expansion of renewables in the last 10 years”, Simon Mueller from the Agora Energiewende think tank told AFP.
