Face electricity, many bankruptcies. Does Germany need to return to nuclear energy?
Germany was, in a long time, a leader in the world market. Currently, the industrialized nation is considered the “man sick of Europe.” The country is in recession for the third consecutive year.
Economic experts provide zero growth for this year. The decline is dramatic. Last year, almost 200,000 companies closed their doors, according to an accreditation study. The highest value since 2011.
And the numbers will continue to fall in 2025. In April, there was a new maximum of insolence. According to the Leibniz Institute, 1626 companies were registered, 21% more than in April 2024, even exceeding the 2008 financial crisis number.
“There are only a few months left to save the industry”
High prices of electricity in particular are causing problems to the industry. Some steel giants now have to temporarily finish their production in a single day to protect their financial damage company.
However, other companies are moving their production to Eastern Europe, or even in China and the entire sectors are threatened. First, the automotive industry: VW, Mercedes and BMW are reducing thousands of jobs. “Made in Germany” has simply become too expensive.
The well -known economist Daniel Steter warns, in an interview with Euronews: “Now we only have 24 months to save intensive energy industries.” Losses suffered by industrial companies to date can no longer be reversed.
“Katherina Reiche’s policy is the continuation of Hazby”
The Minister of Economy, Katherina Reiche (CDU), correctly recognized the energy cost problem in Germany. It is in favor of energy security and the reduction of electricity prices. Therefore, it wants to subsidize industrial electricity, for example. However, the EU threats does not agree with this.
Reiche also wants new gas power plants as a solution to the problem, but the price of gas is also higher than ever. Does the minister have the right income to save the German economy so far?
Daniel Stelter explains that Minister Reiche is taking the right step. “When the wind does not blow and the sun does not shine, we need a safe supply. Now that we have turned the nuclear centers and we also want to turn off the coal, only gas plants remain.” Only with renewable energy “does not work.”
However, Reich’s measures have not yet been enough to revive the economy so that Germany can continue to be an industrial nation: “Those who believe that renewable energies, in combination with gas centers, will lead to cheap electricity, live in a dream world,” the economist told Euronews.
“Many people only analyze the costs of solar cells and wind turbines. Only when the wind blows and the sun shines that is favorable. In fact, we have to include system costs, such as storage and batteries, so renewable energy are the most expensive!”
This is the reason why “Mrs. Reich’s policy, as it is today, is, in fact, the continuation of Robert Habeck” and is not adequate to “provide an industrialized country with sustainable and cheap energy,” continues the economic expert.
Stelter asks the cancellation of the abandonment of nuclear energy
Instead of gas centers, nuclear plants would be the best solution, says Stelter. “If they personally ask me my opinion, of course, I would not have abandoned nuclear energy in the same way. And now I would do anything at my range to reverse the abandonment of nuclear energy, reactivating old nuclear centers.”
Energy specialist: “Gas is too expensive”
The energy expert Björn Peters has an even more critical vision. He has just launched his new book entitled “Schluss Mit Der Energiewende” (the end of the energy transition). In it, he argues that the economy should dare to be more realistic from the ecological point of view.
“The price of electricity with only gas centers cannot be reduced. Its exploration is very expensive. Gas is expensive. In addition, there are CO2 costs. This would mean that in the long run, we would have production prices between 15 and 20 cents per kilowatt/hour,” says Peters. This is too expensive. “That would not be connected.”
Instead, the supply must be expanded rapidly. “This consists in the dismantling of nuclear plants, internal production of natural gas and the capture of CO2 of coal power plants. We have enough coal for 200 years. It would be interested in national security to continue using coal, but with the correct filters.”
Brokdorf and Emsland nuclear power plants can be reactivated by 2026. There are still six nuclear power plants that can be reactivated. The process can extend until the 2030s.
The rich subsidies are a mistake
The consequences of the previous “bad energy policy should not be subsidized,” Peters warns. “Of course this will not work.”
Politicians focus on resolving the industrial crisis through subsidies, in other words, less taxes and state subsidies. This makes no sense. The principle is that the higher the offer, the better. “
However, the expert is optimistic about their expectations regarding the new Minister of the Economy. Reiche wants to “make a great balance”, that is, make a balance of the economy. Peters: “In recent days, we have talked to some government representatives. And at least it seems that they are reflecting on the abandonment of nuclear energy.”
