I don’t think they may shut down any nuclear reactor by 2022, other than the damaged ones. After announcing about the shut down plan, they are purchasing nuclear energy from neighboring countries. That means they need nuclear energy without danger and risk, how it’s possible. Alternate source of energies may not be sufficient to replace the counties energy requirements.
Germany is leading developer of cleantech energy and must have strong scientific proof for the way to future in that direction. Other countries must take lesson from them.
I'm somewhat of the opinion that Germanys' move here was a knee-jerk reaction in the absence of all of the required information. (ala HP in recent weeks). Sure, draw down the amount of nuclear energy going forward. But do so in a studied and logical fashion, considering all of the alternatives available to replace it, and on a schedule that makes sense.
The Germans nuclear predicament is now becoming the future problem of developing economies like Brazil. The kicking the cann down the road, or the not in my backyard attitude by germany to transfer nuclear plants to places like Brazil is hypocritical at best and mean at worst. Why will Germany not want potential nuclear disasters, but willing to pass on the nuclear plants to these countries? This really baffles me.
Barbara, you are right that Japan and Soviets have not been so lucky. From the articles that i have read, nuclear is one of the cheapest and (arguably) safe long term option. It is as safe as air-travel as compare to train-travel or road-travel. Developed country like Germany can probably cope with bit expensive energy or buy it from its neighbor, France, who ironically create a large part though nuclear but developing nations have nowhere to go other than nuclear, i guess.
This is a tough one. I was strictly anti-nuke until I read an article from a former Greenpeace leader that made a compelling argument for nuclear power. One of the points was, at least in the US, not a single death has directly been tied to a nuclar power accident. (We are very good at NIMBY--not in my back yard.) Japan and the Soviet Union have not been so lucky. When something goes wrong, the results are almost impossible to control. Dismantling an infrastructure like Germany's is a daunting task. Ultimately, hats off to germany for making a gutsy decision. But at what cost?
The idea is really amazing and the thought put in considering the welfare of the nation, I would say hats of Germany for this decision.
At the same time just wondering on the aftermath of pulling down the plants like you mentioned about jobs power loss, i think they might employ them elsewhere considering their livelihood.
Its difficult to find a green source of power at this point in time might be once there is rigorous effort put in R&D in such development of alternate source of power. I think SOlar can be one amoung them.
In my opinion this is a very bold decision by Germany and by declaring such a strategic decision, the German government must have thought thru' all the pros and cons of doing away with the power generated using Nuclear energy. Germany has 10 years to implement alternate power genration technologies and I am sure once a nation like Germany decides on something there won't be any backtracking.
This reminds me about the announcement the then US president made about Man landing on moon. Looked like one of an impossible dream ! but America made it happen!
So will the Germans.
The new Clean technologies for power genration are definitely going to get a big boost by this German move.
In India similar sentiments are gaining support aganist setting up of new nuclear power plants.
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Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
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Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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