Live data from Hacker News

Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

nytimes.com

101–110 of 126 posts

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

because someone else supported the idea they are now responsible? weird take on how government should be held accountable.

The Greens fervent opposition to nuclear is a pretty big reason for why it was so unpopular in Germany.

Its the other way around; it was very unpopular, which is why the Green party formed in the first place.

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#102

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertbryce/2022/10/28/the-iron... German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that Germany was reopening five power plants that burn lignite, a low-rank coal. Germany’s return to lignite demonstrates, yet again, the Iron Law of Electricity, which says that people, businesses, and governments will do whatever they have to do to get the electricity they need. Indeed, Germany’s move back to lig…

[dead]

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#103
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That same logic lead to gas pipelines with Russia and Russia blackmailing Germany

Fair. The whole point was that gas was supposed to be the "Plan B" bridge to ensure flex and resiliency during the cutover to renewables. Then they did away with a big component of "Plan A" in nuclear after Fukushima, which promoted Russian gas to an essential component of their transition energy mix. At the end of the day, if Germany hadn't stopped building nuclear or decommissioned reactors, Ukraine probably wouldn…

I think it's not that far fetched to assume Russia had big influence in shaping the anti nuclear narrative and "building relationships" with key politicians.

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#104

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Coal contains between 1 to 10 ppm of uranium. Globally about 8 billion tonnes of coal is burned every year to generate electricity. Thus between 8 thousand and 80 thousand tonnes of Uranium is emitted into the atmosphere every year.

Which… I’m not sure, but that might be more uranium than would be needed in the first place to run our entire civilisation on nuclear power? Certainly it’s in the ballpark.

It's not a a useful measure, since no one would collect uranium in this way but assuming someone would. Some napkin math... 27 tonnes per 1GW reactor/year is used and there are about 440 reactors so about 12kton.

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#105
post #60

Germany is now currently advocating to sanction and ban Russian nuclear imports and maintenance on most European reactors, but is happily importing russian gas in the meantime…

>is happily importing russian gas in the meantime… No, its not.

It’s down a lot, but oil + gas imports are still to the tune of 6 billion euros a month

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/04/13/germany-r...

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#106
Was it a struggle? Seemed like fairly boring long term planning.

Next up for phase out, Coal.

I would until recently have bet that Germany would phase out Coal before the USA, but the recent IRA changes might have made it a competitive race again.

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#108
post #98

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That same logic lead to gas pipelines with Russia and Russia blackmailing Germany

Fair. The whole point was that gas was supposed to be the "Plan B" bridge to ensure flex and resiliency during the cutover to renewables. Then they did away with a big component of "Plan A" in nuclear after Fukushima, which promoted Russian gas to an essential component of their transition energy mix. At the end of the day, if Germany hadn't stopped building nuclear or decommissioned reactors, Ukraine probably wouldn…

> Ukraine probably wouldn't have been invaded.

Putin invaded Ukraine because he wanted to, and Germany had nothing to do with that.

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#109

What are they gonna use for power?

Currently mostly coal (mostly lignite) with a little imported LNG for base load and peaks. Wind and solar if available. Rest is imported nuclear, coal and other power from neighboring countries. Longer term, a switch to 100% renewables is planned, which is supposed to take 20 years. However, plans are coming along too slowly, especially regarding storage and transmission lines. But also necessary ramp-up of wind and…

Yeah, 100% renewable energy for such a large and developed country.

How are they gonna do it, by exterminating 50% of the population?

Re: Germany Quits Nuclear Power, Ending a Decades-Long Struggle

#110
post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Surprised you are getting downvoted, you are correct. This is an incredibly stupid thing to do.

They are probably being downvoted because they are pinning the decisions lead by CDU on the Green party. If they didn't misrepresent the situation they most likely would not get downvoted. Funny how that works, no?

The CDU adopted their environmental policies precisely to out-green the Greens and undercut their support. If the Greens hadn't been so vehemently anti-nuclear, the CDU wouldn't have gone in that direction. But ultimately this is on the German voting public, a large portion of whom have had an irrational aversion to nuclear for a long time.
Post reply on HN