“Ecological” nuclear energy is divisive – Arguments, compromises

Everyone is right in this story. And the French who are celebrating and the Germans who are protesting and the Commission that is looking for compromises and “transitional” solutions. If the criterion for “ecological” forms of energy is the (non) release of carbon dioxide, then nuclear energy is indeed environmentally friendly, as its production causes 18 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour, while the corresponding amount for lignite is … 800 grams. But the environment is not only burdened by carbon dioxide. The incalculable consequences in the event of a nuclear accident are obvious. In addition, the nuclear industry has not yet presented a comprehensive solution for the disposal or recycling of nuclear waste, in fact it is constantly postponing the solution for the distant future and until then the waste is buried in “temporary” storage sites.

For its part, Germany is closing the last nuclear power plants in 2022, has invested huge sums in alternative energy sources and wants to increase the share of renewables in the energy mix to 80% by 2030. In addition, it is not in the mood to reopen an issue that had divided German society for decades. Of course, all this is happening because, as German television (ARD) analyst for European affairs Ralph Sina points out, “so far the government has had no hesitation in importing nuclear energy from France. “In 2020 alone, the French nuclear power plants contributed 14 billion kilowatt hours to the German energy network.” How “good” can “bad” nuclear energy become when it comes from elsewhere?

Looking for the right energy mix

In fact, the question of nuclear energy can only be part of a broader strategic planning for the energy mix we need in the medium term, based on environmental protection, but also costs. Simply put, in an imaginary world we eliminate all fossil fuels (oil, lignite, gas) and invest exclusively in renewable energy sources, but because this cannot be done immediately, we introduce transitional periods for conventional forms of energy. For lignite, which has been shown to cause the highest CO2 emissions, the transition period is minimal. For natural gas, the Commission provides conditional licensing, for example if the release of pollutants does not exceed specific limits and the license is granted until 2030, while it clarifies that this is a “transitional” form of energy. For nuclear energy, the Commission also provides for conditional licensing, but says absolutely nothing about a “transitional” period. This is the biggest victory for the nuclear “lobby” and for a country like France, which currently produces 70% of the electricity it needs from nuclear energy.

Is it also a matter of cost? Many argue that nuclear energy is cheap, but the current situation in France does not seem to confirm this estimate. State energy giant EDF has accumulated debts of more than 42 billion euros. The cost of building nuclear power plants is constantly rising. The construction of a new nuclear power plant in Flemish, Normandy, which was to operate in 2012 at a cost of 3.3 billion euros, but will be inaugurated in 2023, with a total cost of more than 19 billion euros, is rather dissuasive. The same is true of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Finland. Its inauguration is scheduled for the summer of 2022, with a delay of 12 years, while the cost is close to 10 billion euros, compared to 3.2 billion originally planned.

A “gift” for Germany?

Austria is now announcing an action against the Commission in the European Court of Justice, while the European Greens are planning to take legal action, having previously explored the scope for political reaction, for example in the European Parliament. However, Germany does not seem to want a conflict with France, at least at this stage, over such an issue. And yet, especially for the German Greens, “green” certification for nuclear energy is a failure. Otherwise, Robert Robert Hubek would like to start his term in the new Ministry of Economy and Climate Protection. However, Focus magazine estimates that the Commission’s latest proposal also hides a “gift” for Germany.

This is because “green” certification is awarded not only to nuclear power, but also to modernized gas plants, investing for example in hydrogen technology. The wording is not very different from that contained in the program agreement for the government of Olaf Solz in Germany. In addition, the Commission proposal proposes that “green certification” for natural gas be awarded only to those countries which have already submitted a detailed de-lignification plan – a condition which Germany certainly fulfills.

DW / Giannis Papadimitriou (DPA, WDR, Focus)

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