German nuclear phase out generates growth as well as clean energy
Letter to Financial Times from WWF Germany
Sir, Contrary to your editorial on German energy policy, Angela Merkel did not decide to phase out nuclear power after the horrendous events in Fukushima in March 2011. Germany’s Energiewende (‘energy transition’) policy agreed to phase out nuclear power back in 2002.
Besides phasing out nuclear by 2022, the Energiewende aims at a 80-95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, a minimum share of 80% of renewables in the power sector, and a 50% increase in energy efficiency by 2050. Recent opinions polls show 90% of Germans support this political path.
Between 2010 and 2013 the increase in power produced by renewables (+46.9TWh) has outpaced the decrease in nuclear power (-43.3TWh). The increase in coal-fired power generation is due to significant increases in electricity exports and a dysfunctional EU emission trading scheme.
Far from making Germany more reliant on Russian gas, the deployment of renewables brings annual savings of €10bn and potentially €50bn by 2020 due to reduced imports of fossil fuels.
Your article also failed to notice the positive employment effect the renewable energy sector has brought to the German economy. In 2013 there were almost 380,000 jobs in the renewables sector in Germany and this is expected to grow to 600,000 jobs, including 250,000 solely related to energy efficiency by 2020.
Most importantly, the Energiewende will not only help Germany transform into a green and emission-free economy but show other countries that the battle against climate change is economically viable.
Henrik-W. Maatsch
National Climate and Energy Policy Officer
WWF Germany
