A different type of nuclear meltdown in Germany
Germany never experienced a nuclear meltdown in one of its nuclear power plants. But a different kind of nuclear meltdown startet with the japanese nuclear desaster at the Fukushima Daiichi power plants: All political parties are biased to shut down nuclear power generation as fast as possible - where "possible" is a little bit unsharp at the moment.
Nuclear power never had a broad basis in germany since the 1970s. Demonstrations against nuclear power plants and related processing facilities influenced political decisions in a not-so-visible way. This resulted in the decision to shut down all german powerplants until 2021 - in the so called “Atomkonsens” from 2001.
Discussions about nuclear power always ended in a battle between anger-driven arguments and technical-econimical reasoning. The main problem: No debate about a futureproof style of power generation which will replace nuclear power. One side never understood the motivation behind the other sides position. Anger is a bad teacher but anger has a function: avoid critical situations. Technology, science and economy are cold in itself, but: They give facts wich help to decide between “possible” and “impossible”.
The current government discussed in their energy plan to extend the use of nuclear power beyond 2021 but at the cost of a nuclear fuel element tax and enhanced safety standards. This was valid from November 2010 to March 11, 2011 where Mrs. Merkel started a moratorium on nuclear energy.
The Fukushima Accident and its aftermath have initialized a non-radioactive nucear meldown in germany: The acceptance for nuclear power generation is more or less gone.
Replacing nuclear power is a matter of money and scientific possibility. To replace roughly a quarter of germans power demand and 50% of the german baseload demand is a steep and stoney trail. Who pays? For shure, the citizens. Who gains money? Producers, planners and operators for wind and photovoltaics.
There are alternatives like coal, natural gas or importing power. But these paths lead to higher carbon dioxide emissions or an increased dependency from partners. Or nuclear power might flow into the german grid from other countries.
The “Atommoratorium” (=nuclear moratorium) which sent 7 nuclear power plants into a shutdown will end in the middle of June 2011. It will end in a steep and stony trail for germany and the german power customers. But hopefully we will find the right shows, wear and enough “food” to have a labourous but satisfying walk into a manageble energy future!