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Climate-policy goals of the federal government no longer attainable after an abandonment of nuclear energy

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  • Hans-Werner Sinn

Abstract

Electricity from the sun and wind is indeed able to replace electricity from nuclear power plants in Germany. Since nuclear electricity itself only accounts for 4.6% of Germany's final energy supply, and solar and wind power presently amounts to 1.8%, the later is indeed an option, if we ignore the irregularity of the supply. However, the hopes that nuclear energy would help supplant the use of fossil fuels in order to slow global warming is not an option for solar or wind energy. Fossil energy currently accounts for 84.3% of final German energy consumption. If Germany excludes the nuclear option for a gradual substitute of fossil energy sources, the climate-policy aims that Chancellor Angela Merkel proclaimed at the Heiligendamm Summit will most likely not be achievable.

Suggested Citation

  • Hans-Werner Sinn, 2011. "Climate-policy goals of the federal government no longer attainable after an abandonment of nuclear energy," ifo Schnelldienst, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 64(10), pages 16-16, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ifosdt:v:64:y:2011:i:10:p:16-16
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q20 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - General
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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