NEW GERMANY RESTART REPORT: Restarting up to 18.7 gigawatts of Germany’s nuclear fleet is technically feasible, cost-effective, and supported by a majority of Germans.
Germany has an untapped energy resource at a scale matched nowhere else in the West. Per capita, the nuclear capacity Germany could add this decade is nearly an order of magnitude greater than what China is planning to.
Despite the nuclear phaseout, German law already allows work to begin on reactor restarts as long as the electricity is not sold before the law is changed.
In 's most in-depth analysis of Germany’s reactor restart opportunity to date, we find that this program would be:
FAST: 5 reactors could be returned to service in less than 5 years, 14 reactors total in under a decade.
COST-EFFECTIVE: Every reactor studied could produce electricity well below current wholesale prices in Germany. With public financing, these plants could significantly undercut the inflation‑adjusted average of the 2010s.
CHEAPER THAN NEWBUILDS: The cost to bring back the 5 easiest-to-restart reactors is cheaper than any single Western nuclear newbuild currently under construction.
SUPPORTED BY THE PUBLIC: 61% of Germans support making use of existing nuclear in Germany, nearly three times the 22% who favor a complete phaseout and ban.
The missing ingredient remains political will.
In our conversations with the German Energy Minister, it was clear that with the right information, including a sober, accurate picture of what's actually possible, there's real interest in saving this energy supply.
Now, German nuclear industry leaders, several of whom informed our analysis, are urging support for restarts. In a letter sent to Chancellor Merz and members of Parliament, the authors wrote that “reactivating German nuclear power is technically a possible and sensible option,” attaching Radiant Energy Group's report for reference.
Germany once had one of the finest nuclear programs in the world. As more countries across the West recommit themselves to expanding nuclear, Germany has a unique chance to rebuild that expertise while directly addressing the energy cost and supply security issues it's facing.
Conversation
Post your reply
This report builds on Radiant Energy Group's 2024 analysis, with deeper technical assessments of each site and more detailed timeline and cost modeling.
As with our last German Restart report, experts working at the nuclear sites and across the industry provided information on
Quote
Radiant Energy Group
@RadiantEnergyG
We are pleased to announce our report analyzing the possibility of German restarts has been released this morning and covered in the German press.
We found that up to 18.7 GW of nuclear capacity could be brought online quickly and cost-effectively if swift action is taken. x.com/MadiHilly/stat…
The study seems to assume a 90% capacity factor.
Even historically, German nuclear power plants rarely reached 90%, and maintaining such a level would become even more challenging with further expansion of renewables.
Well, not every. Neckarwestheim 1 might not hit the benchmark. Still, most of them. And when considering a full system cost comparison, even Neckarwestheim 1 is likely a good option to bring down full system costs.
BREAKING: We just gave Claude access to the entire options and stock market.
It's the Unusual Whales MCP Server. It plugs directly into any AI assistant and gives it live, structured data on demand.
Build a trading bot. Build a finance dashboard. Build whatever you want.
Please do no spread misinformation. The reactors have been dismantled to a very significant degree! No utility wants to reactivate them.
Solar & batteries is both faster and cheaper than building new reactors, which are extremely expensive and take a very long time.
If nuclear is famous for two things it's:
- always later than planned
- always more expensive than planned.
One can hope!
Unfortunately, the left parties have for decades demonised nuclear energy. Now, the far-right Putin-friendly AfD supports it the most, so many people think it is an evil technology.
"German law already allows work to begin on reactor restarts as long as the electricity is not sold before the law is changed."
The amount of stupidity required to get to point where one makes this law is impressive.
That would be a really good decision! Almost every measure to secure lower energy costs is needed to stop the ship from sinking
Lies.
Its a waste of money and the majority of germans is against it.
Shutting off nuclear was a fossil lobby ploy to ensure medium term fossil demand.
Restarting nuclear is a fossil lobby ploy to slow down renewable proliferation, also to ensure medium term fossil demand.
It would be a complete waste of money.."10" years" to bring back old nuclear power stations..in that time, one can build same capacity for a fraction of the cost and 3x the speed... Nuclear power is currently the most expensive form of electricity generation...
Fully agree, as a former energy industry professional, incl a stint as business project manager for Siemens Wind Power.
This is faster & cheaper & co2 neutral than building new gas power plants.
You should get in touch w Ge (energy using) industry leaders: cheap green energy WW.
We are going to need the high active nuclear waste for the Stellarium type new generation reactors.
If this eventuate it will be a big catalyst. Market seems to like Germany
yea, basically the parkinglots remain re-useable. Massive waste of money.
Its also technically feasible to bring the titanic to the sea surface again.
Standing at the brink, Germany decides to make a comeback. Good idea.
Translated from German
The resumption of nuclear power in Germany could play an important role in the energy transition, especially in times of high demand. It makes sense to utilize all available resources to ensure a stable and sustainable energy supply.
They should absolutely do it and get back in the precision manufacturing fight.
