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The Chancellor underscored the fact that guaranteeing the energy supply without nuclear power is, "a Herculean task," but that, "we can combine ethical responsibility with economic success in this project for the future."

A personal turning point

For her, personally, the events in Fukushima were a turning point, declared Angela Merkel. Even in a high-tech country, the risks posed by nuclear power cannot be fully controlled. "Fukushima has changed my attitude to nuclear power," she said. This is why she called for a reassessment. At the beginning of this week, the Cabinet agreed on eight new energy bills and ordinances for a gradual end to the nuclear era. This step is the result of the extensive safety review of the existing nuclear power plants and follows the recommendations of the ethic commission appointed by the government, she reported.

Nuclear power plants to be shut down

The seven power plants closed down during the moratorium will not reopen, and the Krümmel Nuclear Power Plant will join them. The plan is for the other nine nuclear power plants currently operating to be closed down one by one between 2015 and 2022. Nuclear power is currently used to generate about 22 percent of the power used in Germany.

Billions to be invested in renovating buildings

The Chancellor reaffirmed that the government’s target is to see renewables generating 35 percent of Germany’s power by 2020. As of 2020 all new buildings are to conform to low-energy standards. The funds available for renovation work on existing buildings are to be topped up to 1.5 billion euros, she announced. This will be supplemented by provisions that will make some of the costs of renovation tax deductible. The Chancellor reckoned that this will be equivalent to another 1.5 billion euros. Buildings currently use up to 40 percent of Germany’s total power consumption.

Extending electricity networks and expanding and repowering wind power plants

If we are serious about turning our back on nuclear power, though, we must be prepared to extend electricity networks and wind power. The Chancellor pointed to the government’s plans to speed up and facilitate planning procedures and to boost energy efficiency. The new Network Expansion Acceleration Act is to focus planning authority at federal government level and guarantee collective links for offshore wind farms, she said. Wind power, both onshore and offshore, is to be a focus of the energy shift.

Energy consumption is to be reduced

It will only be possible to move towards more renewable energy if the people of Germany and all the political parties pull together. Renewables are to be made more marketable more rapidly, said the Chancellor. The costs of renewables that consumers pay through their electricity bills are to be reduced in the long term. By 2020, the government aims to see renewables account for 35 percent of total power consumption and this figure is to rise to 80 percent by 2050. By 2020 total power consumption is to be cut by 10 percent.  

Power cuts to be avoided

In spite of the planned end to the use of nuclear power, there will not be power cuts, the Chancellor assured her audience. She personally guaranteed that. But, this will mean ensuring reserve capacities in the form of fossil-fuel-fired power stations.

"If we take this road to the energy of the future, the opportunities will outweigh the risks," declared the Chancellor.