Bravo to Germany for planning to shutdown all Nuclear power plants by 2022. The decision has been made after the Fukushima crisis where protests called for the temporary shutdown of all power plants in Germany. Furthermore after another spate of protests, the German government decided to permanently shutdown their Nuclear power plants.
Angela Merkel, the Chancellor of Germany has stated that “Our energy system has to be changed profoundly, it must be safer, more reliable and economically viable.” Although, despite the popularity of the decision it has been met with some opposition. Some have called her decision a failing popularity bid. Whilst others do not believe that Germany will be able to function without a stable power source.
To address the issue of a new power source, the German Government has decided that it will use wind and solar power intermittently as well as attempt to cut energy consumption by ten percent. Although the decision to intermittently use wind and solar power is a wise and obvious choice. Four power companies have approached a German paper, stating that Germany could face blackouts during the long, dull winters where sunshine is limited and winds will become infrequent.
If this proves to be the case then Germany will have to turn to its coal reserves and also its neighbour, Russia for natural gas. All hardships aside, Merkel is adamant that a country without use of nuclear power is possible. She has said “We believe that we can show those countries who decide to abandon nuclear power — or not to start using it — how it is possible to achieve growth, creating jobs and economic prosperity while shifting the energy supply toward renewable energies.”