Ukraine crisis pushes Germany to rethink nuclear phase-out www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukraine-crisis-pushes-germany-to-…
Germany is prepared to end its ideological opposition to nuclear power and could extend the lifespan of its remaining power stations to lessen its dependence on Russian energy.
Robert Habeck, the economics minister, said there were no “prohibitions on thinking” and that his ministry was reviewing the possibility of keeping coal-fired and nuclear plants online. Habeck is a member of the Greens in Germany’s ruling coalition. His party has its roots in the anti-nuclear and pacifist movement of the 1970s.
If they are serious, they should immediately start considering restart of the Brokdorf, Grohnde and Gundremmingen C nuclear plants. Those plants were shut down at the end of last year, so have only been idle for two months. They would probably need to buy some new fuel. The biggest problem might be how many qualified operators, engineers and maintenance personnel those plants have lost in the last two months. The older workers might have been given an option to retire, while the younger ones went to work some place else.
They wouldn’t be able to restart those plants in a week or a month. But maybe by the start of next year, if all goes well and they can restaff with people who know the plants.
Oh, and they should probably start thinking about ordering some new fuel for the three plants they still have in operation while cancelling their shutdowns.
The chance of any of this happening is approximately zero percent, considering the influence the Green party has in Germany. But that would be what I would do to regain some energy independence.
The biggest problem might be how many qualified operators, engineers and maintenance personnel those plants have lost in the last two months. The older workers might have been given an option to retire, while the younger ones went to work some place else.
I do not see this as a problem. These people can be offered a bonus to come back and for the sake of Germany, they will come back. Most of them are still at the plants which need to be kept safe for years.