For months, the Union has been campaigning for longer operation of the three nuclear power plants that are still active in Germany. Now parliamentary group leader Spahn is presenting data according to which 1.3 million tons of CO2 could be saved.
According to a report, if all three nuclear power plants were still in operation until March, around 1.3 million tons of CO2 could be saved. "An extended operation of the three nuclear power plants Isar 2, Neckarwestheim 2 and Emsland that are in operation beyond December 31, 2022 could lead to a decrease in coal-fired power generation in Germany by 1.2 terawatt hours in the first three months of 2023," quoted the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" from a government response to a Union request.
The generation of 1.2 terawatt hours of electricity from hard coal produces around 1.4 million tons of CO2, with nuclear power around 78,000 tons. According to the report, the Federal Ministry of Economics replied to a request from Union parliamentary group Vice-President Jens Spahn if all three nuclear power plants were still in operation. According to the Federal Environment Agency, a total of 762 million tons of CO2 were emitted in Germany last year.
According to the plans of Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck, only two nuclear power plants are to remain connected to the grid; the nuclear power plant in Lingen in Emsland is to be shut down. Spahn told the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung": "Electricity is expensive because it has become scarce. It is therefore a serious mistake that the traffic light government does not leave all three nuclear power plants connected to the grid for another two years." Instead, more coal-fired power plants would have to be connected to the grid again in Germany and Europe. The CDU politician demanded: "The Lingen nuclear power plant must also remain connected to the grid, for the sake of the climate and energy security."
To strengthen the security of electricity supply, the energy companies RWE and LEAG have had the legal option since Saturday to bring additional lignite-fired power plants back onto the market. There are five blocks that were previously on security standby. In the Lusatian mining area, it is the LEAG power plant units Jänschwalde E
