BERLIN - economic power of Europe, Germany, announced Monday to abandon nuclear energy over the next 11 years, describing an ambitious strategy following the disaster of Fukushima at the Japan to replace the atomic power with renewable energy sources.
Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she hoped the transformation in more solar, wind and hydro energy serves as a roadmap for other countries.
"We believe that we can show those countries that decide to abandon nuclear - or not start to use it - how it is possible to achieve growth, create jobs and economic prosperity while moving renewable energy supply,"Merkel said.""
Merkel Government said it will be closed all 17 nuclear power plants in Germany - Europe and the fourth largest economy in the world of the largest - by 2022. The Government had no immediate estimate of the overall cost of the transition.
The plan defines the Germany out most of the other major industrialized countries. Among the Group of eight countries, only the Italy abandoned nuclear energy, which was rejected in a referendum after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.
The decision represents a remarkable about-face for the Government of center-right of Merkel, who only late last year pushed through a plan to extend the lifetime of the reactors in the country, with the last scheduled to disconnect around 2036. But Merkel, who holds a PhD in physics, said industrialized, "powerlessness technologically advanced of the Japan" in the face of the disaster in Fukushima him rethink the risk technology.
Gradually the nuclear energy in a decade will be a challenge, but it will be possible and ultimately Germany a competitive advantage in the era of renewable energy, said Ms Merkel.
"As the first big nation industrialized, we achieve such a transformation to efficient and renewable energy with all the possibilities brings exports, develop new technologies and employment," Merkel told journalists.
The Government stated that the renewable energy sector has already employs approximately 370,000 people.
Seven reactors of the Germany's oldest, already disbonded grid pending safety inspections following the disaster of March at the Fukushima Dai-ichi from the Japan nuclear plant, will remain permanently offline, said Ms Merkel. Plants accounted for about 40 percent of the capacity of nuclear power plants in the country.
At the time of the disaster in Japanese, Germany a little under a quarter of its electricity from nuclear energy, on the same share as in the United States.
While the Germany has already set to abandon nuclear energy subsequently, the decision - which still requires parliamentary approval - considerably accelerates this process. Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen said there are no provisions that would allow a more later reverse policy.
"We do not want only to give up energy nuclear in 2022, we also want to reduce our CO2 emissions by 40 percent and double our share of renewable energies, 17% today and then 35 percent," said the Chancellor.
Angela Merkel stated that the cornerstones of the energy policy of the Germany will also include a safe and stable food that rely on imports and an affordable price for industry and consumers. The plan provides for more investment in natural gas plant as a backup to prevent blackouts, said the Chancellor.
The Germany initiative received a sceptical welcome abroad.
French Prime Minister Fran?ois Fillon, the country relies on nuclear power to produce 80 percent of its electricity supply, insisted "there is no" for the EU to achieve its goals of reducing emissions to at least a certain nuclear power.
"We respect this decision, but it does not change our policy," Fillon said. France operates more than one third of nuclear reactors in the EU.
Minister for the environment Andreas Carlgren of the Sweden also criticised the German decision, telling Associated Press that focus on an end date was regrettable and could travel to the price of electricity across Europe.
Germany, usually a net exporter of energy, has sometimes had to import energy since March, with seven reactors old shut and others temporarily grid for regular maintenance. However, the agency supervising its electricity network, DENA, said Friday that the country is self-sufficient and its capacity for the production of renewable energy in the spring peaked at 28 gigawatts - roughly the equivalent of 28 nuclear reactors.
Many Germans were fiercely opposed nuclear since sent Chernobyl radioactivity on the country. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets after Fukushima to urge the Government to close the reactor quickly.
A dozen years, there is a centre-left Government has developed a plan to abandon for good technology in 2021, due to its risks. But the Merkel Government last year amended to extend the life of plants on average 12 years – a political responsibility after Fukushima was struck by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami of the Japan.
Environmental groups welcomed decision of Berlin.
"The country is to throw its weight behind a clean, renewable energy to power its manufacturing base and in other countries as Great Britain should take note," said Robin Oakley, Director of Greenpeace's United Kingdom campaigns.
German industry, said that the Government should not allow the policy changes to lead a unstable power or increase the price of electricity.
Hans-Peter Keitel, President of the Federation of German Industries, urged the Government not step to set the date of 2022 in stone, but be flexible if problems arise.
In Switzerland, where nuclear energy produces 40 percent of electricity, also announced last week it intends to close its reactors gradually when they reach their average lifespan of 50 years - which would be the last plant off-line in 2034.
Decision of the Germany largely follows the findings of a commission of Government intervened on the ethics of nuclear energy, which Saturday, delivered recommendations on how to abolish the technology.
"Fukushima was a dramatic experience, see it as a nation of high technology cannot cope with such a disaster," Matthias Kleiner, co-Chairman of the commission, said Monday. "Nuclear energy is a technology with too many risks inherent in it impose on us or our children."
___
Geir Moulson Berlin, Malin amounting to Stockholm, Colleen Barry in Milan, Jamey Keaten in Paris and Cassandra Vinograd London contributed reporting.
没有评论:
发表评论