Thread by @itsolelehmann

I'm German.

My country just made a €500 billion mistake:

We demolished our last nuclear plants while France kept 56 reactors running.

Now we're reliant on Russia, pay 2x for electricity, and burn more coal than ever.

Here's the brutal story of Germany's nuclear suicide 🧵:

First, let's be clear about what happened:

Germany had 17 nuclear reactors providing clean, reliable power.

They were among the most well-designed and safest reactors in the world.

Then Angela Merkel shut them ALL down. The last 3 went dark in April 2023.

Why?

Because of fears after Fukushima in 2011.

But here's the brutal irony:

While Germany was dismantling its nuclear plants, France kept 56 reactors running – producing some of Europe's cheapest and cleanest electricity.

The contrasts here are truly crazy:

• German households pay €0.40/kWh for electricity
• French households? Just €0.21/kWh
• 2x difference!

Germany pay 37% higher than EU average. 4x higher than Hungary.

But it gets worse.

To replace nuclear power, Germany did something almost unbelievable:

We started burning more coal and buying Russian gas.

Yes, you read that right.
They replaced zero-emission nuclear with fossil fuels.

So much for "green" Europe.

@elonmusk called this exactly what it is: "extremely crazy" and "total madness."

He's right.

The numbers tell a devastating story:

• Energy costs up 421% since 2021
• German companies paying 3x more than US competitors
• Average family spending €2,248 just on heating
• 12 billion dollars lost annually from the nuclear exit

But the real tragedy?

These nuclear plants were masterpieces of engineering:

• Multiple safety systems
• Concrete containment structures
• 60+ years of operation potential
• Zero carbon emissions

Now they're demolished while Germany burns coal.

The solution is obvious but politically difficult (as most things are in modern Europe):

1. Restart the nuclear program
2. Rebuild energy independence
3. Lower costs for families and businesses
4. Stop relying on Russian gas

Until then?

Germany's economy will continue bleeding jobs and industry to countries with cheaper energy.

The clock is ticking. German industry is already moving operations abroad.

This isn't just about money anymore...

It's about the future of Europe's largest economy.

Energy security = national security.

Nuclear power = energy security.

It's that simple.

And here's what makes this even more critical:

The AI arms race is all about energy.

Training a single large AI model already costs millions in electricity. And we need WAY more compute to scale these models.

The nations & companies with access to cheap/reliable nuclear power will dominate the future of AI.

Everyone else?

They'll be left behind—just like German industry is being left behind today.

Speaking of staying ahead...

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