Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Nuclear energy phase-out in Germany - statistics & facts
Germany was to phase-out nuclear power by the end of 2022, after a widespread debate that lasted around 40 years. Accordingly, over 15 of Germany鈥檚 nuclear power units have been switched-off and decommissioned in the last 20 years. The remaining three nuclear power plants in the country 鈥 Emsland, Isar 2, and Neckarwestheim 2 reactors 鈥 were shut down on Saturday, April 15, 2023, after a three-month delay due to the energy crisis that greatly impacted Germany in 2022. Although the contribution of nuclear power to Germany鈥檚 energy mix in 2022 was as small as six percent鈥 down from almost 30 percent in the 2000s鈥, it was not without criticism that the country exited nuclear energy. Among the main concerns of the national and international opponents to this action were its environmental impact and the implications for the future of Germany鈥檚 power supply.
