If Germany's energy transition
or Energiewende is associated with
the switch to renewable energy,
then it's also associated with a switch
away from emissions-free nuclear energy.
Sandwiched between a potato field and
the Neckar River, is one of Germany's last
nuclear power plants to have been closed.
The Neckarwestheim 2 reactor was shut down
last year after 35 years of service.
Now, amid growing concerns about energy security,
there are more voices calling
for a return to nuclear energy.
Many of those are likely to be present
in Germany's next government.
Yet, it's unlikely that Neckarwestheim 2
is going to be restarted.
Germany's conservatives have pledged
to revisit the subject of nuclear energy.
The CDU, CSU Christian Union looks set to
emerge as the strongest faction
following elections set for February.
But even the independent mayor of Neckarwestheim,
whose community has benefited
from the revenues of a local nuclear plant,
sees no way forward for the technology in Germany.
Technically, it would probably be feasible,
but only with a lot of financial support.
Dismantling has already progressed too far.
One would need to spend a lot of money
to reverse it. I don't see anyone
in politics willing to spend the sums needed.
So, I think it is a bit of a false discussion.
It's not just a question of money,
it's also a question of purpose.
As Germany continues to shed large old coal plants,
it increasingly needs a safety net
of flexible assets, power stations
that can be cycled on and off quickly
and don't need to operate
all year round to break even.
Nuclear power,
it's not a flexibility provider,
because you will not build
a nuclear power station
to shift, or to only produce in some hours.
So, that's why I feel we now are in a world
where we have a different flexibility challenge.
A pro-nuclear majority may emerge
in Germany's next parliament,
if not in its next government,
but the technology's days here
look set to remain firmly in the past.
