Thread by @simonwakter

It is now becoming increasingly clear how the German government has lied to the public for months about nuclear power.

In this thread I will document articles and evidence of these lies.

.@welt describes top level meetings where the government was presented solutions to keep the nuclear plants running - e.g. getting new fuel delivered in time.

But the government did not take any action.

Instead, the German government made up a number of reasons why the plants couldn't continue runnings - DESPITE knowing that these reasons were false!

@_freidel describes both some of the arguments and why they are wrong in FAS:
faz.net/aktuell/politi…

The government even released a report (8 March) in which they said to have examined the conditions for continued operation of the plants. According to the report it would not be possible.
bmwk.de/Redaktion/DE/P…

However at the same time the Government held meetings with power plant operators and energy companies where solutions were provided.

@Wachter__M and @jungpionier_ showed interviews with a spokesperson of Preussen Elektra describing this.

The German testing, inspection and certification organisation TÜV says it's both possible to continue operating the last 3 plants AND to restart the 3 plants that closed only 6 months ago.

As also stated by TÜVs managing director in an interview with Reuters.
reuters.com/business/energ…

There is now a clear majority in favour of using nuclear energy and for keeping the plants running, which the German government is ignoring.

Story about fuel rods now also in @BILD

Several points made here were also covered in an earlier story from @BILD in June.

Closure of firm capacity in 🇩🇪 could be a violation against the solidarity articles (1 & 15) of the Emergency Preparedness Regulation.

Germany must act in a spirit of solidarity with its neghbours to prevent an energy crisis.
eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/…

.@tech_for_future has made an amazing summary and refustion of the most common arguments against extending the operation, as well a compilation of all German media coverage of the extensions.

I highly recommend reading it!
tech-for-future.de/gas-kernkraft/…

Several people have asked me why I care, why they should care or said that closing the plants isn't a big deal.

So...

Here comes TWO MIND-BLOWING REASONS to help me fight to keep the German reactors operating!

Are you ready? 🤯

Reason 1⃣

If you help a nuclear plant run just one hour extra it equals offsetting all the emissions in your entire life.

(replacing 1 GWh coal = ~800 tons CO2 and 10 tons CO2 per year for average life of ~80 years means 800 tons CO2. The 🇩🇪 reactors are bigger, around 1.4 GW)

Reason 2⃣

There are ~440 reactors in the world, producing ~2700 TWh.

Germany has 3 reactors producing 35 TWh.

Saving the 3 German reactors would save ~𝟭% 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝘂𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿⚡!
0.1% of total electricity globally.

35 TWh/year.
35 million tonne CO2/year

If we save the remaining 3 and restart the 3 reactors which closed only 6 months ago it would equal around 2.5% of all nuclear electricity globally.

EU's total electricity production is about the same as global nuclear production, so it would save 2.5% of EUs total electricity.

A draft EU plan to reduce gas consumption calls on countries to postpone their nuclear phase-out plans and to take into account the impact on security of supply in other member states.

euractiv.com/section/energy…

The CEO of Orano Group says it is possible for Germany to get fuel, just need to say the word and they will "work day and night".

I visited Westinghouse's nuclear fuel factory in Västerås, Sweden, and spoke to their CEO, Aziz Dag.

He told me they have delivered fuel to Germany before and could do so again if they want fuel.

The average lead time for new fuel from order to delivery from Westinghouse is 114 days (not including acquiring and transporting uranium to the fuel factory, but that shouldn't take too long).

Until 2025 they aim to cut this to 57 days.