Germany shut down its last three remaining nuclear reactors on 15 April 2023, effectively phasing out of nuclear energy. Berlin has shut down the 1.3 GW Emsland reactor in Lower Saxony (commissioned in 1988), the 1.4 GW Isar-2 reactor in Bavaria (commissioned in 1988) and the 1.3 GW Neckarwestheim reactor in Baden-Württemberg (commissioned in 1989).
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action and the Ministry of Environment have stated that the security of power supply is and will be assured despite the nuclear exit and that the very high reliability of the country's power supply remains secured. They also stated that the nuclear phase out will significantly increase nuclear safety in the country.
Germany began phasing out nuclear power more than 20 years ago, but plans were accelerated following Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011. All of Germany's remaining nuclear reactors were originally scheduled to be shut down by the end of 2022, however, the closing of the last remaining plants was delayed until April 2023 due to the energy-related consequences of the war in Ukraine. Sixteen reactors were closed between 2003 and 2022.
Germany wants to transition to renewable energy and aims to generate 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
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