German nuclear power: features and interesting facts

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Relatively recently, the German Minister of Energy announced the refusal to build new nuclear power plants and the transition in the near future to the use of renewable sources. This is a very bold statement. Will a state with such a powerful and developed industry be able to meet the demand for electricity only through the use of wind, solar and water energy? This is a big question. The opinions of industry experts on this issue are very contradictory. However, as history shows, the energy sector in Germany can develop dynamically and at a very fast pace, despite many restraining factors. This article is devoted to the problems and history of the development of nuclear (and not only) energy in the territory of modern Germany.

Construction of nuclear power plants in West Germany

Active construction of nuclear power plants in the Federal Republic of Germany began in 1955. This is due to the entry of Germany intoNATO alliance. Prior to this, the development of nuclear energy in Germany was vetoed. The ban was imposed not only on the development of nuclear programs, but also on a number of other industries (including the development of the army and weapons). These restrictions were imposed after the surrender of Germany following the Second World War and the transfer of its western territories under the control of the United States of America and Great Britain.

In 1961, the first nuclear power plant was put into operation. It had very modest technical characteristics (total power - only 15,000 watts, reactor type - BWR). It was, in fact, a pilot project aimed at obtaining not profit, but important scientific data.

1969 was marked by the commissioning of the first commercial nuclear power plant, Origheim. The reactor of this station already had a power of 340,000 watts. This power plant had a PWR type reactor.

The further development of Germany's nuclear power industry was spurred on by the development of new modifications of nuclear reactors, as well as the growth of exchange prices for energy resources (in particular, for oil). The industry has shown unprecedented growth rates. The share of electricity in the overall structure of the German energy sector, produced at nuclear power plants, was supposed to be increased to forty-five percent. However, this indicator was never achieved: by 1990, the share of nuclear power was 30 percent of total generation.

Sites for the construction of nuclear power plants were chosen most often in the lower reaches (or in the middle reaches) of rivers. This took into account the needs of the populationnearby cities in electricity and fuel resources. It was precisely because of the dispersal that all nuclear power plants had one (with rare exceptions, two) power units. Moreover, the maximum power of nuclear power plants of that time did not exceed 100,000 watts, which is a very modest indicator by modern standards.

It cannot be said that in those years the development of nuclear energy was absolutely unhindered. Under the influence of public speeches, the construction of at least three nuclear power plants was stopped. Another station was decommissioned one year after commissioning. Probably, in those days, the idea of reorienting energy in Germany to renewable sources was born.

Nevertheless, the development of the peaceful atom was marked by a number of breakthrough successes. Thus, West Germany became the first capitalist state in the world to be able to build a merchant ship with a nuclear plant. We are talking about the world-famous dry-cargo ship "Otto Hahn". The experiment turned out to be very successful: this ship was actively used for ten years and more than recouped the funds invested in its construction.

The most significant market share in the construction of nuclear power plants was occupied by Kraftwerk Union. It was later taken over by industrial giant Siemens.

In April 1989, the second nuclear reactor at the Neckarwestheim station was launched. After that, the nuclear industry froze in anticipation of further developments in the political arena. As you know, the unification of Germany and the demolition of the wall soon followed, a longtime that divided the people. Of course, these events could not but affect the development of the energy sector. The new political leadership will bet on the development of alternative energy in Germany.

The history of the development of the nuclear industry in East Germany

Compared to West Germany, energy (primarily nuclear) developed according to a different model. The authorities of the German Democratic Republic have relied on the construction of large nuclear power plants of high capacity. Although the development of nuclear energy in these territories began with a slight delay: the first station ("Reinsberg") with a power unit with a capacity of 70,000 watts was launched only in 1966. Specialists and scientists from the Soviet Union took an active part in the design and construction of this nuclear power plant. The project turned out to be very successful, and the station worked for almost a quarter of a century without serious accidents and emergencies. By the way, this was the first foreign experience of Soviet specialists in the field of nuclear energy and the construction of nuclear power plants.

Nord became the next nuclear power plant. The project included the construction of eight power units. The first four were built between 1973 and 1979, after which the construction of the rest began. Four power units produced ten percent of the country's total electricity and played an important role in the development of the German energy sector.

It can be said that the history of the nuclear energy of the GDR ended at the moment of the unification of disparate states and the demolition of the Berlin Wall. The social formation and priorities have changed. Green energy has become increasingly popular. Germany suspended the operation of all nuclear power plants in the territory of the former GDR and mothballed them. The new government criticized the technology of the Soviet Union and considered these stations dangerous. The construction of new stations was out of the question. According to most experts, such actions de alt a big blow to the economy of the entire country. The decision was clearly politically motivated, because such stations have been successfully operating in many countries around the world.

Providing fuel

Uranium ore was actively mined on the territory of the GDR. The Saxon and Thuringian mines came under the control of the Soviet Union. The Wismuth joint venture was established, which oversaw the extraction of uranium ore in the territory of the German Democratic Republic. The volumes of uranium fuel production were quite impressive. The GDR ranked third in the global ranking of countries in terms of uranium mining. The power industry of the German Democratic Republic experienced rapid development. After the unification of the country's territories and the closure of nuclear power plants in the GDR, uranium production fell sharply.

Western Germany was unlucky: there were practically no uranium ore deposits suitable for industrial development on its territory. Raw materials were imported from Niger, Canada and even Australia. Perhaps this was one of the reasons why Germany abandoned nuclear energy.

Failed experiment

For a reasonDue to the limited nuclear fuel resources in West Germany, fast neutron reactors played an important role. The first experimental fast reactor was built in 1985. The Kalkar NPP became the site. However, the fate of this masterpiece of engineering was unenviable. It was a long-term construction (it was erected for a long thirteen years). Moreover, construction was regularly stopped due to protest moods in society and mass demonstrations. About seven billion German marks were invested in the development and construction of this power unit (in terms of current prices, this amount is equivalent to approximately three and a half billion euros). The accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant caused a flurry of criticism of the construction of this facility, and it had to be frozen (for which another 75 million euros were spent).

The nuclear power plant itself was converted into an amusement park. It should be said that the idea turned out to be worthwhile: more than six hundred thousand people visit this park every year, leaving a lot of money there.

Course to phase out the use of nuclear energy

Protests against the construction of nuclear power plants took place even in the dashing 1970s, when there were crises in the energy sector all over the world. Protest moods were fueled by the "greens", under the direct supervision of which several construction sites were seized. As a result, the construction of these stations was frozen and never resumed.

At the turn of the century (late 90s), the Green Party comes to power. Then it wasput an end to the development of the nuclear industry in Germany. Wind energy, as well as solar energy, began to attract more and more public attention. Research in this area began to be actively funded. And I must say, not in vain - the share of clean energy in the total volume of production began to grow rapidly.

In 2000, a law was passed aimed at refusing to use atomic energy. Of course, there could be no question of shutting down and mothballing all nuclear power plants at once. The problem of using nuclear power was supposed to be solved in the following way. Each nuclear power plant can operate without modernization and overhaul, after which it was proposed to close these plants. The service life before overhaul was 32 years. The German Ministry of Economy and Energy today reports with annoyance that this program will not be carried out as planned. Already in 2021, there should not have been a single station on the territory of modern Germany. And yet the Germans did a lot for this. The share of nuclear energy in the total volume is declining noticeably every year. The plan was adjusted for 15 years, taking into account the growing needs of German industry for electricity. Thus, the last nuclear power plant should close in 2035. According to experts, Germany has every chance to complete the work begun to the end. This will be an unprecedented event in world history.

Liquidation of nuclear power plants

In 2011, all nuclear power plants over 30 years old werestopped for the purpose of a comprehensive examination by the government commission. No major security gaps have been identified. But who cared? Society was determined to eliminate the atomic threat. The Green Party added fuel to the fire. According to the results of the inspection, 8 out of 17 working power units stopped working.

Nuclear plant owners flooded the German courts with claims for compensation for damages and demands not to close the plant. However, business could not compete with the state. The German Ministry of Energy, with the support of the Chancellor, decided to close the remaining 9 units by 2022.

Betting on alternative and renewable energy sources

Today, Germany occupies a leading position in the world in a number of indicators of the use of renewable alternative energy sources. The number of wind generators has exceeded twenty-three thousand. These windmills generate a third of the world's wind power. Their total capacity is 31 gigawatts.

The share of nuclear energy today is only 16 percent of the total electricity generated. Germany already covers more than a quarter of its electricity needs from renewable sources. And this share is growing very fast. Solar energy in Germany is developing particularly rapidly. But the development of wind energy is complicated by a number of factors (lack of a sufficient number of power lines, uneven energy generation, difficulties in integratingwind farms into the country's overall energy system).

Environmental monitoring

The German Ministry of Nature stated an increase in the growth of emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere by a total of 1.6 percent. At the same time, industrial production showed a very slight increase (0.2 percent). At the same time, industries that traditionally produce the largest amount of harmful substances (chemical industry and metallurgy) showed a very significant decline - 3.7 percent. The increase in emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere can only be explained by an increase in the number of thermal power plants, provoked by the closure and shutdown of a number of nuclear power plants.

According to industry experts, the environmental situation could be much better if all 17 liquidated power units continued to operate. It would be possible to reduce emissions by one hundred and fifty million tons per year. Approximately as much is produced by all road transport in Germany.

Hit the German economy

Estimates of losses incurred by Germany as a result of the abandonment of nuclear energy vary greatly (30 billion - 2 trillion euros). With the most negative forecast, losses will amount to about sixty questions of GDP.

In any case, the population and industry will feel the consequences of abandoning nuclear energy. A significant increase in electricity prices is expected. As a result, all industrial goods will rise in price by at least 15-20 percent, which will significantly weaken Germany's position in the internationalarena.

Already today, many families cannot pay their electricity bills. In the future, we should expect an increase in debt and an increase in power outages in the homes of residents (only last year there were about 120,000 such forced outages).

Industry outlook

Germany is not limited to the development of only wind energy. All potential opportunities for the development of "green" energy are being used. Comprehensive scientific research is being conducted on the creation of efficient solar cells, the development of geothermal energy, and so on. There were even the first power plants on gas, which is formed in waste disposal sites.

However, "green" energy alone will not be enough to meet the needs of the country. Therefore, efficient thermal power plants are being developed and built. These CHPs are small. They are usually installed in the basement of residential buildings.

The effectiveness of investing money in the development of alternative energy remains extremely low. It was estimated that 130 billion euros of investment in infrastructure construction led to only a three percent increase in energy generation.

The people and the government have staked on the development of alternative energy in Germany. Russia, and a number of other states, continue to actively build nuclear power plants. It is difficult to say which approach is correct. Time will judge.