Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Iran: Iranian TV: Iranian air defenses shot down an Israeli Hermes 900 drone over Markazi Province, central Iran
Nour News, citing Iranian Armed Forces: 20th wave of Operation Truthful Promise 3 successfully targeted three of the Israeli enemy's strategic centers.
Nour News, citing Iranian Armed Forces: The targets struck included Ben Gurion Airport, the Biological Research Center, and command and control centers.
Iran's representative to the UN: Once again the US chose to sacrifice its security for Netanyahu
US President Donald Trump on Truth Social: It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime Change??? MIGA!!!
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in New York: The draft resolution calls for the protection of civilians, respect for international law, and engaging in dialogue and negotiations.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in New York: Russia, China, and Pakistan submitted a draft resolution to the Security Council calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.
Israeli Channel 13: The Iranian nuclear program cannot be destroyed with missiles, even if we spend another year attacking it alongside the Americans.
Over 30 casualties in a suicide bombing that targeted the Mar Elias Church in Damascus, Syria.
Iranian Shura Council recommends the closure of the Hormuz Strait and leaves the decision up to the Iranian National Security Council.

Germany to close nuclear reactors despite energy crisis

  • By Al Mayadeen Net
  • Source: Agencies
  • 31 Dec 2021 11:10
3 Min Read

Germany will shut down three nuclear power plants on Friday, amid Europe's worst energy crises.

  • x
  • Germany to close nuclear reactors despite energy crisis
    Germany to close nuclear reactors despite the energy crisis.

Germany will shut down three nuclear power plants on Friday, despite Europe facing one of its worst energy crises in history, in accordance with Angela Merkel's timetable for phasing out atomic energy.

With energy prices already on the rise and tensions between Europe and key gas supplier Russia at an all-time high, the closure of the plants in Brokdorf, Grohnde, and Gundremmingen could exacerbate the situation.

The move will halve Germany's remaining nuclear capacity and reduce energy output by around four gigatons, which is equivalent to the power produced by 1,000 wind turbines.

Protests over the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011 prompted former German Chancellor Angela Merkel to set in motion the process of abandoning nuclear power just over a decade ago.

Germany intends to phase out nuclear energy entirely by the end of 2022, when it will close its final three plants in Neckarwestheim, Essenbach, and Emsland.

However, with energy prices soaring across Europe, the timing of the plans' implementation could not be worse.

The Dutch TTF, Europe's reference gas price, reached 187.78 euros per megawatt-hour in December, ten times higher than that at the beginning of the year, and electricity prices are also skyrocketing. Geopolitical tensions with Russia, which supplies one-third of Europe's gas, have fueled the rise.

Related News

CNBC unveils strategic plan to revitalize Syria energy sector with US

Syria to sign deal to import electricity from Turkey, minister says

Western countries accuse Russia of restricting gas deliveries in order to put pressure on Europe in the midst of the Ukraine conflict, despite Russia's announcement it is prepared to raise the required production volume of gas to meet European demand.

Moscow also wants to push through the contentious Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which would transport even more Russian gas to Germany.

Hiking prices 

According to Sebastian Herold, a professor of energy policy at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences, the end of nuclear power in Germany will likely drive up prices even further.

"In the long term, the hope is that an increase in renewable energy will balance things out, but this will not be the case in the short term," he told AFP.

Until Germany can truly ramp up renewables, it will rely on fossil fuels to fill the void left by the nuclear exit. "This will make Germany more dependent on natural gas overall, at least in the short term, and thus also a little more dependent on Russia," Herold said.

The transition may also take longer than Germany would like, as renewables progress has been slowed in recent years by opposition to energy infrastructure projects.

For the first time since 1997, the proportion of energy generated by renewables is expected to fall to 42% in 2021, down from 45.3% in 2020.

Nuclear plant closures will raise prices while also removing a key source of low-carbon energy in a country that is already struggling to meet ambitious climate goals.

The new coalition government, led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, has pledged to move Germany's planned coal exit date to 2030 and to have the country generate 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by the same year.

  • Russia
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Germany
  • nuclear plant
  • Nord Stream 2
  • Nuclear Power
  • Europe
  • Energy crisis

Most Read

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

Iran launches 9th wave of Op. True Promise 3, destroys IOF air defense

  • MENA
  • 17 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani, speaks with then-Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, January 17, 2017 (AP)
Politics

Iran holds the initiative after nuclear strikes, Shamkhani says

Blood stains a religious painting inside Mar Elias Church, where a suicide bomber detonated himself in al-Dwela, on the outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on Sunday, June 22, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN, regional governments condemn Damascus church bombing

A B-2 bomber arrives at Whiteman Air Force Base Missouri, Sunday, June 22, 2025, after returning from a massive strike on Iranian nuclear sites on Saturday (AP)
Politics

Israeli media: US-Israeli strike on Iran failed to end war

China UN Ambassador Fu Cong addresses the United Nations Security Council, Monday, March 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Politics

China slam US strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS