Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert, head of department of energy, transportation and environment at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin):

 — It would be the better alternative to extend the lifetime of nuclear power plants than to construct new coal power plants

Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert, head of department of energy, transportation and environment at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin):

If nuclear power plants will all shut down by 2021, a lot of new coal power plants will be built. There is a plan to construct 26 new coal power plants. Almost 50 % of the German electricity is produced by coal, 22 % by nuclear, 16 % by renewable energy and rest by gas fired power plant. In the next 10 years, almost half of the existing old coal power plants will be shut down. If we would not create all the new coal power plants, 25 % could be replaced by gas fired combined heat and power plants.

Gas has the advantage to produce less greenhouse gases, and is flexible to install and handle so that it can be easily combined with renewable energy. It would be the better alternative to extend the lifetime of nuclear power plants than to construct new coal power plants. The share of renewable energy will increase independently from the rest, we have a feed in tariff which guarantees a fixed price for 20 years. The infrastructure as well as energy storage is crucial. We could use nuclear as long as the share of coal is at 10 %, this could be in 2030.

Sure, alternative energy can cope with the needs of large industry. Crucial is energy storage and an increase of the infrastructure. Gas would produce less greenhouse gases and should be prepared. If we increase the share of coal power plants, greenhouse gas emissions will drastically rise, Co2 prices will rise and electricity prices will increase. Germany has a so-called feed in tariff system since 10 years, which guarantees a certain price for the individual renewable energy. For example, companies which produce electricity by offshore wind energy get a price of 13 сent /kwh, the market price is around 5 сent/kwh. The difference is paid by the consumer (no tax).