German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to permanently shut down the country 's 17 nuclear reactors by 2022 . Last year Chancellor Angela Merkel , who this week won her third term as Germany 's leader , proposed to construct offshore wind farms in the North Sea , a plan that would cost 200 billion euros ( $ 270 billion ) , according to the DIW economic institute in Berlin . The move is part of a plan for Germany to cut its reliance on atomic energy and reduce carbon emissions as it tries to meet tough new climate targets set in Paris. Renewable power to contribute 35 % of the country 's electricity consumption by 2020 and 80 % by 2050 .
German Chancellor Angela Merkel pledged to permanently shut down the country 's 17 nuclear reactors by 2022 . The move is part of a plan for Germany to cut its reliance on atomic energy and reduce carbon emissions as it tries to meet tough new climate targets set in Paris. Renewable power to contribute 35 % of the country 's electricity consumption by 2020 and 80 % by 2050 .