The economic scheme for the German nuclear phase out

Contrary to France, Germany disposes of important lignite resource and lignite complemented with Russian gas imports contributed to 58% of the electricity production in 2011. The contribution of renewable energies reached 20% and that of nuclear energy 17%. The relatively rapid nuclear phase-out (the last reactor will be stopped in 2022) will be costly for the German economy for several reasons. First the decommissioning of reactors whose construction costs are already paid off, secondly the dismantling of reactors is costly, thirdly massive investments to do in renewable energies equipment today would have been less expensive in the future (because of the steady decrease of their costs), fourthly heavy investments to do for developing the power distribution grid necessary to integrate renewable energies, and fifthly an increase of energy imports and probably a sharp increase in CO2 releases. The price of electricity for the German household is already very high, and the trend is to increase it continuously to limit the use of electricity. (A.C.)