Germany officially phased out nuclear power

From Sunday April 16, the smoke from nuclear power plants will disappear from the German sky. The country disconnects its last three reactors. The end of a long process started twenty years ago. If environmentalists celebrated this exit from nuclear power in Berlin, this change of course raises questions. Germany is moving from low-carbon energy to renewables, while also relying on extremely polluting coal.

Germany aims to close coal-fired power plants by 2038

This paradox is explained by a financial reason. “Ten years ago, solar and wind were absolutely not compatibleexplains Aurélien Saussay, environmental economist. Today this is no longer true. The cost of solar power has been divided by ten and by seven for wind power. The cost reductions are still continuing.” Germany clearly displays its objectives: the shutdown of coal-fired power plants by 2038 and 80% renewable energy by 2030.