Friends of the EarthGermany

Turn off nuclear energy

Transformation to renewable energies in Germany

The role of a strong civil society

Richard Mergnervice-­chairman of the scientific advisory council

friends of the earth GermanyPolicy-­director of the Bavarian branch of foe Germany

Seoul, Korea-S, Oktober 2016

Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland e.V. – a short introduction

• The NGO was foundedJuly 20th, 1975

• About 540.000 members, sponsors and supporters

• Financiation by membershipfees and donations, only!

• Federative Organisation, state associations like BUND Naturschutz Bavaria with 230.000 members, regional andlocal BUND groups

• Member of Friends of the Earth International, the world‘slargest network of independent environmental groups

• Headed by a democratic board, • Stired by a democratic scientific advisory council

• 5 million members in environmental groups (NGOs) and Anti-Nuclear-Power-Initiatives,

• (3-times larger by number than all political parties)• 4 huge environmental NGOs: Greenpeace, WWF, BUND,

NABU, and additionally smaller NGOs

Base for leaving of nuclear energy -­ a powerful environmental movement

A historical corner stone of Germany‘s nuclear power phase-­out

26th April 1986: nuclear catastrophe ofTchernobyl

Causes: • An experiment went wrong• Human errors• A difficult type of nuclear reactorwithout containment

Non professional reactions:• Late evacuations• amateurish decontamination

The nuclear reactor of Tchernobyl after the explosion

Effects in Germany

Germany 2010 -­ the nuclear power republic

fence of thee WAA Wackersdorf site, 1986(Foto: focus.de)

WAA Wackersdorf mass demonstration 1986

90 days after Tschernobyl 120.000 people

Anti-­Nuclear-­Power-­Protests

High level of continuity of the environmental movements: Anti-Nuclear-Power-Resistance for 40 years

The opponents:

The lobby of the 4 big nuclear-­power energy companies became weaker

- The big 4: controlling more than 60 % of electricity generation

- The big 4 oligopoly: split of service areas

The 1st German nuclear power phase-­out. A leftist-­ecologist (SPD / Die Grünen) government

1998: Change of government2000: resolution of nuclear phase-­outAim: Abandoning nuclear

Energy by 2021The German Commission on Reactor Safety:• before 2000 safety checks driven by interests: members are proponents of nuclear energy

• after 2000 this institution became open also for critical experts (Lothar Hahn, Michael Sailer, Wolfgang König)

The renewable-­energies-­law (2000)

Key elements:• Electricy companies are forced to open their gridsfor electrical energies from renewables

• Renewables energieswith priority in the grid

• A legally guaranteedcost-­effectivefeed-­in tarif for 20 years

Beitrag der erneuerbaren Energien zur Stromerzeugung in Deutschland

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

[GWh]

Wasserkraft Windenergie

Biomasse * Photovoltaik

* Feste und flüssige Biomasse, Biogas, Deponie-­ und Klärgas, biogener Anteil des Abfalls;; 1 GWh = 1 Mio. kWh;;Aufgrund geringer Strommengen ist die Tiefengeothermie nicht dargestellt;; StromEinspG: Stromeinspeisungsgesetz;; BauGB: Baugesetzbuch;; EEG: Erneuerbare-­Energien-­Gesetz;;

Quelle: BMU-­KI III 1 nach Arbeitsgruppe Erneuerbare Energien-­Statistik (AGEE-­Stat);; Bild: BMU / Christoph Edelhoff;; Stand: Dezember 2011;; Angaben vorläufig

EEG:April 2000

EEG:August 2004

StromEinspG: Januar 1991 -­ März 2000

EEG: Januar 2009

Novelle BauGB:November 1997

Effective increase of renewable energies within the electricity generated in Germany, supported by legal guides

Roll back against the nuclear power phase-­out

2009: liberal-­conservative GovernmentIn October 2010 the government decided the extension of runtimes of nuclear power stations, by eight and 14 years, respectively (depending on their age).

background:the big 4 energy companies operating Nuclear Power Stations put massive efforts in political lobbying, the Nuclear Power Stations are making huge profits of about 300 Million € per year.

Demonstrations for the 1st nuclear power phase-­out in Germany 2011

100.000 participants surrounded the German government quarter in Berlin

March 11th, 2011: MCA in Fukushima

The new nuclear desaster documented: Nuclear energy is uncontrollable and irresponsible

The nuclear reator in Fukushima after the expulsion

Variety of activities:• Mass demonstrations• Quiet demonstrations for months in many places

Hundreds of thousands are demonstratingfor the „nuclear power phase-­out“in

Germany

(Quiet) demonstrations on the anniversary of Fukushima

Inhabitants from the Fukushima region report on the MCA, in Germany, autumn 2011

BUND members fold10.000 cranes for Japan -­ sign of solidarity

BUND presidentProf. Hubert Weiger with Richard Mergner at demonstrationin the region of Fukushima 2012

Open-mindedness of the pressThe German media scene stands out due to a high plurality.

Public, by fee financed broadcasting companies with a party-political independent reporting

2nd Nuclear power phase-­out, in Germany 2011• Multi-factorial:

• Strong Anti-Nuclear-Power-Movements for decades, and ability of mobilization 2009-2011

• Summer 2011: the government declared the immediate shut down of 8 Nuclear Power Stations, in sum an electrical power of about 8.500 MW

=> Phase-out by 2022• June 2015 shut down of NPP Grafenrheinfeld• Scheduled shut down of the remaining 8 Nuclear Power

Stations• 2017 Gundremmingen B• 2019 Philippsburg 2 • 2021 Grohnde, Gundremmingen C and Brokdorf, • 2022 Isar 2, Emsland and Neckarwestheim 2.

Energy Transition and Nuclear Phase-­out

• Saving of energy

• Energy efficiency

• Renewable energies

The global player Siemens AGshut down nuclear business division and is now engaged in energy saving ans renewable energies.

The renewable-­energies-­law 2001-­2013Key elements:

• Grid companies must take over the electricalenergies from renewables

• Priority to electrical energies from renewables

• Guaranteedcost-­effectivefeed-­in tariff for 20 years

Direction change in the renewable-­energies-­law 2014 / 2017 slows down the

energy transition

• Lower und upper limits for newly installedrenewably power

• Forcing direct marketing of renewably electricalenergy

• Implementing a new bidding systemfor to gain guaranteedcost-­effectivefeed-­in tarif for 20 years

Introduction of Energy Transition

Wildpoltsried (Kempten/ Allgäu)Germany / Bavaria / Swabia

Examples of Energy Transition

Foto: MT-Energie GmbH

Foto: Sonja Zerfaß/pixelio.de

Energy transition is realized by cities and municipalities

Exampel: „Village of Energy“ Wildpoldsried / Allgäu

• 2500 Inhabitants• 3 small hydroelectric power station• 990 m² thermal solar equipment and 2759 kWp photovoltaic panels

• 5 wind energy turbines (180 citizens involved)• public village-­heating• Measures to increase efficiency and energy saving• Biogas plant with local biomass

Effects:• Coverage of the electricity demand: more than 350% • Below 50 % of the mean German per capita emission of CO2

Solar power for 10 Million Households

energy sources in Germany 2015

• 194 billion kWh• Share of Renewable Energies to electricity

demand: 32.5 %

Leaving Coal ?Government stays with CoalBUND fights, partly successfully, against new coal-fired power plants: •2007/2008: 41 plants in planning => 22 plants stopped• Today only 11 plants in operation / under construction.

Aus: Kohleatlas, BUND/ HBS 2015.

• Carbon dioxid from coal-fired power - a main cause of climate change

• Demonstrations• Manifestations• Climate-camps• Other Actions

Shutdown of Coal-­fired Power Plants

Leaving Nuclear would be feasible forEurope till 2030

Chances from Energy Transitions• Abandoning the risky technology of nuclear power

• Slow down climate change• Prevent destruction of the landscape• Counter act limitations of fossil resources• Affordability of energy• Safer technologies• Local / regional value creation• Positive social impulses• Rescue „creation“

Nuclear waste in Germany

• 300.000 m³ nuclear waste, more than 17.000 metric tonsof highly radio-active waste

• Water in deposite testing site Asse-> nuclear waste has to be removed

• Since over 20 years officials discuss deposit project Gorleben (salt! - geologically not suitable, politically not accepted).

• New law in 2013, implenting a commission 2014-2016, BUND joined, but finally had to refuse the results,i.e. lack of transparency

Public participation in the nuclearwaste commission in Germany

Due to public protests, the government decided in 2013 toopen a commission for the „storage of highly radioactivewaste“.

The search for criteria and concepts for a national nuclearwaste disposal was restarted again.Participation of the civil society (science, churches, economy, and NGOs from the environmental and ecological movement).

The BUND did join. But the BUND finally rejected the results-­ deficites of scientific criteria-­ lack of transparency andpublic participation.

Nuclear waste deposites

Discussed regions in Germany ???

ConclusionThe nuclear power phase-­out is possible.

The shut down of nuclear power plants is a chance for innovation in industry and society and makes future without damages of the environment possible.

The commitment of citizens and NGOs can make mass media and politics concerned.

The energy transition requires new and democratic forms of economics, involving citizens.

The global solidarity of the anti-­nuclear-­power-­movement is growing and should grow more. A common human task for the future!

Thank you for solidarity with the anti-­nuclear-­power-­movement South Korea -­ Germany

Thank You very much for your interest and Your kind attention!

Richard MergnerBauernfeindstr. 23D-90471 NürnbergGermany

+499118187825+491716394370

📧 richard.mergner@bund-naturschutz.de