Backing out of nuclear power

This study presented by the BUND investigates the scenario of an abandonment of nuclear power for electricity generation within one year, in the federal state of Lower Saxony, West Germany. Data of the year 1985 are taken as the basis to draw up an image of non-nuclear power supply in the year 1988. The current situation of the electricity market in Lower Saxony is that a high proportion (over 60 per cent) of electricity is generated by nuclear power. Another high amount comes from natural gas fueled power plants. One main result of the study is that complete, immediate shut-down of the nuclear power stations Stade, Unterweser and Grohnde is technically feasible, and also is acceptable in terms of economy and ecology, taking into consideration the risks and hazards emanating from the nuclear industry. The peak load calculated for the winter period 1987 to 1988 is shown to be manageable (up to 99.9%) after nuclear power station shut-off by the remaining, non-nuclear power plants. Reserve capacity the studies says can be obtained by supplies from the interconnected network and by reactivation of older, shut-off conventional plants still existing. Enhanced load percentage of coal or gas fueled power plant with denox equipment will meet an electricity demand as that of the year 1985, plus an increase of 3%. Pollutant emission as calculated in the study can be reduced with regard to sulphur dioxide (by 61% compared to 1985), but nitrogen oxide emission is expected to rise by 32%. (orig./DG)