CGTN
16-Apr-2023
Synopsis
Germany has closed its final nuclear power plant after 60
years, ending its nuclear program and becoming fully reliant on renewables.
Protesters gathered in Berlin to both celebrate and demonstrate against the
closures. Although only 6% of Germany’s energy production came from nuclear
power last year, two-thirds of Germans wanted to extend the lifespan of the
last reactors or connect old plants back to the grid, according to a survey.
However, the government aims to pursue fully-renewable electricity generation
by 2035.
Germany closes the last of its three nuclear power stations
on Saturday, ending its nuclear program that lasted close to 60 years and led
to one of the largest protest movements in Europe.
By midnight on Saturday, the Neckarwestheim nuclear power
plant will be shut down forever along with the Isar II and Emsland towers,
leaving no more operational nuclear reactors in Germany.
Berlin now enters an era, where they hope to pursue
fully-renewable electricity generation by 2035.
Protesters gathered in the streets of the German capital on
Saturday, some celebrating the end of nuclear power in the country, others demonstrating against the closures.
“By phasing out nuclear power, Germany is committing itself
to coal and gas because there is not always enough wind blowing or sun
shining,” said Rainer Klute, head of a pro-nuclear non-profit association.
Nuclear power was behind only 6 percent of Germany’s energy
production last year, compared to 44 percent from renewables, federal statistics
office data showed. Still, two thirds of Germans favored extending the lifespan
of the last reactors or even connecting old plants back to the grid, a survey
by the Forsa institute showed earlier this week.
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