The topic of nuclear energy was for decades the red flag in the politics of the Federal Republic. The Green Party has its roots in the anti-nuclear movement. Theoretically, their original mandate was fulfilled in April 2023. The last nuclear power plant in Germany went offline. Almost 40 years after the Italians shut down their reactors. Italy is currently preparing its return to nuclear power through so-called mini-reactors. Germany wants nothing to do with this and simply buys nuclear power from France for convenience. And China? China continues to massively rely on nuclear energy.

China Drives Expansion Forward

China is fully committed to nuclear energy. According to a study by the US agency Energy Information Administration, nuclear power generation there will be tripled (Source: Nuclear Forum). In doing so, not only conventional reactors are in focus. China is also searching for ways to make nuclear energy safer and nuclear waste easier to dispose of. The experimental thorium molten salt reactor plays a role here. The principle of these reactors is based on the fact that the cooling water does not come into contact with fissionable material and thus contamination like in Fukushima is prevented, according to MDR.

In addition to the existing reactors, the path has been cleared for eleven new nuclear power plants. However, the assumption that nuclear energy is the main energy supplier is misleading. Chinese coal-fired power plants still contribute massively to global warming.

(Source: Low Carbonpower)

It should also not be forgotten that China, with 1.4 terawatts, is the largest producer of renewable energy worldwide (Source: Wikipedia).

German Energy Production After the Nuclear Phase-Out

The figures from China become interesting for us only when we compare them with German data regarding the origin of electricity.

(Source: Low Carbonpower)

What does the neutral term “net imports” mean? Occasionally, electricity produced in Germany is not sufficient to cover consumption peaks. In this case, providers resort to electricity from abroad – for example, French nuclear power. According to Tagesschau, the share of foreign-bought nuclear power in the German grid in 2024 was 4 percent. It is pleasing that the share of electricity from renewable energies in 2024 already accounted for 60.1 percent. However, time is pressing to achieve full compensation for this fossil energy source before the planned coal phase-out. Italy’s decision to return to nuclear energy is intended to enable the country on the Apennine Peninsula to achieve climate neutrality as quickly and cheaply as possible.

What Does the Future of Electricity Look Like in Germany?

Critics of the nuclear phase-out say “dark.” In pub and coffee table discussions, it is repeatedly heard that Germany’s nuclear phase-out was nonsensical under safety aspects when countries like China and the USA are pushing nuclear power and Germany is buying nuclear energy from France. The safety argument, the reason for phasing out nuclear energy, is refuted by quite reputable sources. The following graphic compares the number of deaths caused by accidents and air pollution per terawatt-hour across different types of electricity generation.

(Source: ourworldindata.org)

The discussion for or against nuclear energy is likely far from over even after shutting down German reactors domestically. With continuously increasing electricity consumption, considering ambitious goals for e-mobility, the question arises whether areas for wind farms and solar parks will be sufficient in the long term. Wind farms are a good example of ambivalence, as shown by the often-heard argument “No thanks to nuclear power, but please build wind turbines somewhere else.”