In the context of a possible energy crisis this winter in Germany, there is a heated debate about the fate of the last three German nuclear power plants, which are due to be decommissioned by the end of 2022. It is worth extending your work for three months, for several years, or even restarting those nuclear plants that were previously shut down in Germany as part of the peaceful phase-out of nuclear power approved by the authorities?

All possible options are being discussed now. At the same time, such discussions hardly find understanding in neighboring countries, because now in 13 of the 27 EU member states, nuclear power plants produce electricity on one scale or another.

Germany: the only one to abandon nuclear energy

Nuclear power – no thanks! Government “Red-Green” Germany under the leadership of Chancellor Gerhard Schröder he met this demand from his constituents in 1998, deciding to phase out Germany’s nuclear power.

In 2010, the Christian Democrat-led government extended the lifespan of German nuclear power plants by 12 years. After the devastating accident on the Japanese Fukushima-1, the opinion of the authorities changed drastically again. On June 6, 2011, the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel (Angela Merkel), which previously supported nuclear energy, decided to abandon it.

To date, 14 of the 17 German nuclear reactors have been shut down. The last three, which are still in operation, should be deactivated at the end of 2022. Their capacity – and this represents 6% of the country’s energy balance – should be temporarily replaced by gas-fired plants, which now seems impossible due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

Belgium: nuclear power plant shutdown postponed

In the spring, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Belgian The government has postponed the phase-out of its previously approved nuclear plants for ten years – from 2025 to 2035. Until then, two of the seven reactors in operation will continue to operate. Today, in Belgium, half of the electricity produced is generated by nuclear power plants. At the same time, Germany’s criticism of its safety standards has not stopped.

Starting or returning to use of nuclear power plants

AT THE Poland there are no nuclear plants yet, but she wants to build them. The first Polish nuclear reactor is due to be launched in 2033. Companies from the US, South Korea and France are fighting for the right to implement the project. Initially planned cooperation with neighboring Lithuania was abandoned in Warsaw. The Polish government considers nuclear energy environmentally friendly and wants to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal.

Protest on the Oder River on the border of Germany and Poland against the construction of a Polish nuclear power plant

AT THE Lithuania Until 2009, the Ignalina nuclear power plant, built in the Soviet era, operated, which had to be closed under pressure from the European Union for safety reasons. Work on the design of a new nuclear power plant in Visaginas was halted shortly after a referendum held in the country in 2012, in which nearly two-thirds of participants voted against the construction of a new nuclear power plant. However, the Vilnius authorities, having stopped receiving power from Russia, did not completely abandon their plans.

Netherlands in 2021, the decision to phase out nuclear power was cancelled. Instead, the government favors the construction of two new nuclear plants. At the moment, the only nuclear power plant remains in operation, covering 3% of the country’s electricity needs.

Swedish NPP “Forsmark-1”

AT THE Sweden six operating nuclear power plants generate 40% of the electricity produced. In 1980, Stockholm decided to phase out nuclear power as soon as the use of reactors became economically unprofitable. In 2010, this decision was revised – up to ten reactors could remain in operation. However, the four oldest were still standing.

At the same time, in principle, the Swedish authorities are in favor of reducing the share of nuclear power plants in the country’s energy balance, but do not indicate specific dates. In addition, Sweden plans to build a nuclear depot in which radioactive waste – even if only from its nuclear plants – must be stored for thousands of years.

France and Finland: in the process of expansion

Nuclear power – yes please! Inside France Few doubt its usefulness. 56 reactors, many of which are currently under repair, generate up to 70% of the country’s electricity, which the French also use for heating. France, Europe’s biggest electricity exporter, supplies the products of its nuclear power plants Great Britain and Italy.

French President Macron visits GE Steam Power, which makes turbines for nuclear power plants

Paris is currently building a new reactor, with six more planned. In addition, options are being discussed to replace eight old nuclear plants with new ones. Although the French authorities were to reduce the share of nuclear energy in their energy balance to 50% by 2025, in 2019 these plans were delayed by ten years.

Finland, where five reactors operate, is also expanding the use of nuclear energy – by the end of the year, a sixth will finally be connected to the grid. After that, 60% of the country’s electricity will be generated by nuclear power plants. Russian company Rosatom originally intended to build another nuclear power plant in Hanhikivi, but the contract was canceled by the Finns after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The third power unit of the Finnish nuclear power plant “Olkiluoto” was put into operation in April 2022 with a delay of 12 years

Eastern Europe does not abandon nuclear plants

But Hungary relies on Russia not only for gas supply, but also for nuclear energy: two new reactors – in addition to the four in operation – are to be built by Rosatom. The start of the first phase of construction is scheduled for September. Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto visited Moscow in July to finalize the deal. After the implementation of the project, Hungary wants to increase the share of nuclear power plants in its energy balance from 50% to 60%.

AT THE Bulgaria, which will also develop nuclear energy, while two reactors supply 30% of the country’s energy needs. At the same time, in the spring, Sofia abandoned the project to build a new reactor in Belém by Russian companies. Now in Bulgaria, most likely, they will bet on smaller reactors that can be used decentrally.

Bulgarian NPP “Kozloduy”

Czech, producing around 30% of the electricity with the help of six reactors, also has a positive attitude towards nuclear energy. By 2040, it is planned to increase its share of the energy mix to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from gas and coal plants.

authorities Romania, where two nuclear power plants operate, want to increase their number, but those plans are still not very specific. Now 15 to 20 percent of electricity in Romania is generated by nuclear power plants.

Is at Slovakia, which has four reactors and offers broad support for the peaceful atom, that number exceeds 50%. The fuel rods that come from Russia will have to be replaced by ours at some point. Bratislava also plans to build a plant for processing spent nuclear fuel, but not with a waste dump, but only with a temporary storage facility.

Slovenia operates a nuclear reactor with Croatia, thus supplying its electricity needs by 36%. Part of it is exported to Croatia itself. The authorities are considering the possibility of building a second reactor, next to which it is planned to equip a temporary storage of radioactive waste.

Spain: Don’t Build New, But Rebuild Old Nuclear Power Plants

About a quarter of the electricity generated in Spain accounts for its seven nuclear power plants. The further development of the industry depends on which parties will be in power. In the past, socialist governments tended to limit the use of nuclear power plants, while conservative governments tended to expand it.

Today, Spain’s position is like this: not the construction of new nuclear plants, but the reconstruction of the existing ones. Licenses to operate the reactors expire in 2027-2035. Three old ones stopped in the last few years. In addition, Madrid is exploring the possibility of developing its own uranium deposits.

EU member states decide for themselves with which combination of electricity generation sources they must achieve the climate protection targets approved by Brussels by 2050. At the same time, nuclear energy in the EU is recognized as corresponding to the concept of sustainable development, and nuclear energy is recognized as “green”. Overall, in the EU, a quarter of the electricity produced comes from nuclear power plants.