Germany now shutting down nuclear reactors

[Beerina]

Apparently Germany, in an astounding knee-jerk reaction, is going to shut down many of their nuclear reactors.

I'm guessing they've done a rational analysis that they're in immediate danger of a massive earthquake followed by a tsunami.


Regardless of whatever logic lead them to want to shut down aging or poorly-designed (and not upgradeable?) plants, what just happened in Japan should have no bearing on it.

 

[DC]

Apparently Germany, in an astounding knee-jerk reaction, is going to shut down many of their nuclear reactors.

I'm guessing they've done a rational analysis that they're in immediate danger of a massive earthquake followed by a tsunami.


Regardless of whatever logic lead them to want to shut down aging or poorly-designed (and not upgradeable?) plants, what just happened in Japan should have no bearing on it.

Actually it was long planned, but the current government stoped the shutdown of reactors until now. and will again stop it after the elections.

 

[Childlike Empress]

It was a highly controversial issue before. You can't ignore a 45 kilometer long protestor chain, even if you are Angela Merkel.

 

[McHrozni]

Regardless of whatever logic lead them to want to shut down aging or poorly-designed (and not upgradeable?) plants, what just happened in Japan should have no bearing on it.

It's called political will. However, they won't be stopped permanently, but only until June, so an emergency review of safety procedures can be carried out. Significant, but not as severe.

McHrozni

 

[andyandy]

Is there an award for dumbest political gesture divorced from reality? This has got to be up there surely.....

 

[dudalb]

Is there an award for dumbest political gesture divorced from reality? This has got to be up there surely.....

When the rolling blackouts start, I hope the German people are happy.

Government by the most recent opinion poll is not a good thing.

 

[DC]

When the rolling blackouts start, I hope the German people are happy.

Government by the most recent opinion poll is not a good thing.

Why is it not good when people are able to decide them-self what kind of energy production they want in their country and which one not?

 

[Eskarina]

It was a highly controversial issue before. You can't ignore a 45 kilometer long protestor chain, even if you are Angela Merkel.

Especially not with quite a few important elections this year.

 

[portlandatheist]

Meanwhile, coal marches on in Germany

 

[Travis]

Why is it not good when people are able to decide them-self what kind of energy production they want in their country and which one not?

So you won't protest at all if the USA decides to use nothing but coal forever? Consequences to global warming be damned!

 

[Sword_Of_Truth]

Why is it not good when people are able to decide them-self what kind of energy production they want in their country and which one not?

The German power grid is in crisis. Wind and Solar don't work on municipal and national scales. They are too diffuse and they can't produce enough energy to meet the demands of a modern society. But more importantly, in the case of germany, there is too much solar power. All solar power systems in a given area start producing at the same time. This creates a surge of power that the grid can't cope with.

Children, DC, are free to choose to break their toys. But they shouldn't come crying to adults once they do. When germany starts experiencing the rolling blackouts Dudalb described, grown-ups will tell them they shouldn't have turned their nukes off.

 

[dudalb]

Another example of why "Direct Democracy" is a bad, bad, idea.

 

[portlandatheist]

So you won't protest at all if the USA decides to use nothing but coal forever? Consequences to global warming be damned!

QFT. Other countries should be able to criticize the US for our carbon emissions as the consequences are global in nature. Likewise, other countries should feel some heat for making poor energy choices.

 

[Sword_Of_Truth]

Likewise, other countries should feel some heat for making poor energy choices.

Especially if they are going to be forced to start buying power from other countries driving up the prices for all.

Or if they have an issue like the 2003 blackout that plunged both New York and Ontario Canada into darkness for days.

 

[INRM]

But aren't they going to have to compensate for the power produced by those reactors by burning lots of extra fuel?

 

[Eskarina]

The German power grid is in crisis. Wind and Solar don't work on municipal and national scales. They are too diffuse and they can't produce enough energy to meet the demands of a modern society. But more importantly, in the case of germany, there is too much solar power. All solar power systems in a given area start producing at the same time. This creates a surge of power that the grid can't cope with.

Children, DC, are free to choose to break their toys. But they shouldn't come crying to adults once they do. When germany starts experiencing the rolling blackouts Dudalb described, grown-ups will tell them they shouldn't have turned their nukes off.

You do realise that electricity can be traded, especially in Europe, don't you? We won't have any blackouts. Unlike parts of the US - that's at least what I heard. Power will be just that wee little more expensive. Business as usual.

Sorry, in German only.
http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energiemarkt#Entwicklung_der_Stromhandelsbilanz

 

[timhau]

Why is it not good when people are able to decide them-self what kind of energy production they want in their country and which one not?

The only thing most people know about energy is that you get it from a socket in the wall. That coupled with more or less purposefully drummed-up fears results in a really, really poor basis for a long-term energy policy. (Case in point: Sweden. In 1980, a couple of years after the Three Mile Island incident, they decided in a referendum that they'll give up nuclear power by 2010. As a result, no new plants were built, and the old ones weren't modernized to the hilt -- after all, why bother when you're giving it all up in a decade or two? Swedish nuclear expertise also waned. When the date set for giving up nuclear energy actually approached, the majority now not only wanted to retain it but also to build new plants. Right now, Sweden produces something like 40% or more of their electricity in nuclear plants -- aging plants, which are now asked to produce more power than ever before.)

BTW, are you sure you're listening to the majority instead of the loudest minority?

 

[Sword_Of_Truth]

You do realise that electricity can be traded, especially in Europe, don't you?

Yes. This will not solve the problem. Only alter its consequences.

We won't have any blackouts. Unlike parts of the US - that's at least what I heard.

Oh but you will.

Power will be just that wee little more expensive. Business as usual.

"Wee little"?

France is staying nuclear, but they will only have so much extra power to sell.

 

[Childlike Empress]

Renewable energy in Germany^WP

The share of electricity produced from renewable energy in Germany has increased from 6.3 percent of the national total in 2000 to about 16.1 percent in 2009. In 2009, investments totalling 20 billion euros were made in Germany’s renewable energies sector. According to official figures, some 300,500 people in Germany were employed in the renewable energy sector in 2009, especially in small and medium sized companies. About two-thirds of these jobs are attributed to the Renewable Energy Sources Act.

Germany is the world's first major renewable-energy economy.

The annual increase in solar production capacity in 2009 and likely 2010 was higher than the US' total output.

Mind your own business, cavemen.

 

[Eskarina]

Yes. This will not solve the problem. Only alter its consequences.

17 NPPs producing 22.6% of the total power generation in Germany (2009). Net export in 2008 was 22.5 TWh. Seven shut down temporarily, i.e. until after the elections. So I think

Oh but you will.

we will cope. For now.

"Wee little"?

France is staying nuclear, but they will only have so much extra power to sell.

France produces 86.6% of power via NPPs, they REALLY don't have much of a choice. And there are other countries.