Enlarge image
Nuclear power plant Isar in Essenbach near Landshut: According to a report, emissions could be saved by the stretching operation
Photo: Wolfgang Maria Weber / IMAGO
According to one report, 1.3 million tons of CO₂ could be saved if the three nuclear power plants that were still active continued to operate until March.
"An extended operation of the three nuclear power plants Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland that are in operation beyond December 31, 2022 could lead to a decrease in coal-fired power generation in Germany by 1.2 terawatt hours in the first three months of 2023," quoted the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" from a government response to a Union request.
The generation of 1.2 terawatt hours of electricity from hard coal produces around 1.4 million tons of CO₂, with nuclear power around 78,000 tons.
If all three nuclear power plants were still in operation, savings of a good 1.3 million tons of greenhouse gases would be possible, according to the report, the Federal Ministry of Economics replied to a request from Union parliamentary group Vice-President Jens Spahn (CDU).
According to the plans of Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), only two nuclear power plants are to remain on the grid;
the nuclear power plant in Lingen in Emsland is to be shut down.
Spahn told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung": "Electricity is expensive because it has become scarce.
It is therefore a serious mistake that the traffic light government does not leave all three nuclear power plants connected to the grid for another two years.« Instead, more coal-fired power plants in Germany and Europe would have to be connected to the grid again.
The CDU politician demanded: "The Lingen nuclear power plant must also remain connected to the grid, for the sake of the climate and energy security."
Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) currently expects two nuclear power plants in Germany to continue operating beyond the end of the year.
Habeck recently announced that there is currently a lot to be said for this stretching operation, since European electricity production in France is not sufficiently secured due to the failure of nuclear power plants there.
There is also criticism of the plans within Habeck's party - a lifetime extension with new nuclear waste cannot be a solution, according to Jamila Schäfer, spokeswoman for the Bavarian regional group.
You can read here how the parliamentary group reacted to the plans.
ani/AFP
