Study sees no power price hikes as Merkel touts nuclear phaseout
As Chancellor Angela Merkel touts Germany’s planned exit from nuclear power, a new study has dismissed fears that electricity prices and greenhouse gas emissions will rise.
The Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday that research by the Potsdam Institute of Climate Research and the University of Leipzig came to just that conclusion.
The study said in the long-term it would make little difference in price whether gas or coal-fired plants are built to replace nuclear energy, but plants powered by gas would reduce greenhouse emissions more.
It suggests electricity prices may rise it the short-term, but they will eventually level out.
The research emerges as Chancellor Angela Merkel is on a final push to promote the country’s planned pullout from nuclear energy by 2022.
On Thursday, she told parliament that the plan will be “a Herculean task,” but said it would greatly benefit the country.
Her centre-right coalition hopes to pass legislation finalizing the phaseout in July with a broad parliamentary majority.
But on Thursday she has faced criticism from opposition parties, which support ending nuclear power but ridicule Merkel's sudden change of heart on the issue.
But Merkel said the nuclear meltdown in Japan following an earthquake made her ditch her previous willingness to extend the lifespans of Germany's reactors.
"Even in a high-tech country like Japan, the risks of nuclear energy can not be safely controlled,” she said.
DAPD/The Local/mdm
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The Süddeutsche Zeitung reported on Friday that research by the Potsdam Institute of Climate Research and the University of Leipzig came to just that conclusion.
The study said in the long-term it would make little difference in price whether gas or coal-fired plants are built to replace nuclear energy, but plants powered by gas would reduce greenhouse emissions more.
It suggests electricity prices may rise it the short-term, but they will eventually level out.
The research emerges as Chancellor Angela Merkel is on a final push to promote the country’s planned pullout from nuclear energy by 2022.
On Thursday, she told parliament that the plan will be “a Herculean task,” but said it would greatly benefit the country.
Her centre-right coalition hopes to pass legislation finalizing the phaseout in July with a broad parliamentary majority.
But on Thursday she has faced criticism from opposition parties, which support ending nuclear power but ridicule Merkel's sudden change of heart on the issue.
But Merkel said the nuclear meltdown in Japan following an earthquake made her ditch her previous willingness to extend the lifespans of Germany's reactors.
"Even in a high-tech country like Japan, the risks of nuclear energy can not be safely controlled,” she said.
DAPD/The Local/mdm
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