Germany closes all nuclear plants.

[Ceast]

I think the Germans are going to import more French nuclear power and burn wood.

Scotty you're half correct "Never underestimte the stupidity of politicians"

Never underestimate the stupidity of the voting public.

 

[itsmoked]

It will be interesting to watch.

I listened to an interview with two Germans related to the power industry. They said it was ambitious but that the various goals they'd previously set for alternative energy percentages had all been reached earlier than projected every time. They believed it was possible.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[cswilson]

I've been wondering if Henry Morgenthau has returned from the grave to serve on Merkel's cabinet. (Morgenthau was the member of Roosevelt's cabinet in WW2 who most forcefully advocated the policy of complete forced de-industrialization of Germany after the war so it could never again be a threat to other countries.)

 

[rasevskii]

for cswilson:

Several years ago I, with a partner, did a tour of East Germany, in the idea of investing and rehab of small hydroelectric sites at former mill installations, on several river systems. On almost every site there was nothing left other than derelict buildings and former canal systems. All the previous mechanical and electrical plant had been totally stripped out and evidently sent East as War Reparations. Under the following Communist political regime, it all went to total ruin. We visited ruins where not a turbine had turned or a mill had operated for evidently decades. Over 100 sites were covered.

However, on several sites, new small turbines and generators had been reinstalled, using the latest technology and remote monitoring.

An example of the stupidity of politicians. Removing all the old plant and the organizations and established interests that ran them had only made it easier to install the new.

rasevskii

 

[cswilson]

rasevskii:

Yes, I had understood that the Soviets did implement their version of the "Morgenthau Plan" after the war. And it is ironic how a complete disaster, man-made or natural, that wipes the slate clean can eventually lead to a better result.

 

[loki3000]

the lignite is a very dirty and energy-inefficient form of coal. i think the decision was made more or less only for political points due to the fukushima disaster.
in the end probably some old plants will be closed (like the ones in japan, old bwr), the rest will be given an extension and a couple of new ones will be built.