Nuclear energy, “A technology of the past”

On 15 April, Germany disconnected its last three operating nuclear reactors from the electricity grid, in line with its plans for a sustainable energy transition without the atom. The shutdown, originally planned for 2022, had to be postponed due to the war in Ukraine, dependence on Russian gas and the global energy crisis.

The decision to phase out nuclear power - which accounted for 11.4 percent of electricity generation in 2020 - was made in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. More recently, this has led to a revival of fossil fuels, the reopening of coal-fired power stations and the expansion of mining projects such as Lützerath to ensure short-term supply. Berlin must now invest in renewable energy, and as the 2023 forecasts show, the game is far from won.