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> renewables can not make up the difference then, now or in the foreseeable future Note that renewable electricity supply has actually grown faster than nucle

• LeifCarrotson 9y ago
  That's great, and needs to continue, but it hasn't happened organically. There have been significant investments in economic, political, and social support of renewables which have enabled that growth. Also, the rising price of oil has made it more competitive. Renewable energy has been promoted. Nuclear energy detractors have only advocated against it, rather than fighting the more difficult "shut down the nuclear plants and also spend money on more renewables" fight, they went with just "shut down the nuclear plants". Coal was the unintended result.
  • xxgreg 9y ago
    Yes the fight against coal is a challenging political battle in Germany. The social and political aspects are probably the most challenging. There is discussion happening at high levels in government, for example the State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Rainer Baake, used to be the head of Agora Energiewende who put out this coal phase out strategy. https://energytransition.org/2016/01/proposal-for-a-german-coal-phase-out/ https://energytransition.org/2016/01/proposal-for-a-german-c...
• ckuehne 9y ago
  Export is not the metric you are looking for. Germany exports lots of solar and wind engery during storms or on hot summer days because it cannot use it. The prices for this energy are low, even negative.
  • xxgreg 9y ago
    This chart shows net generation. i.e. GWh/yr Note that Germany earns more $ per MWh exported to France than vice versa. This is because on average France tends to have surpluses at night and in summer when electricity isn't in high demand. France imports electricity at high prices during cold snaps in winter when German wind tends to be blowing.