The German town that ran out of power

Apparently, not everyone can keep up with the pace of Germany's race to electrify everything from heating to cars.

Photo by Andrew Hall on Unsplash

Dear Reader,

This week marked a year since Germany switched off its last nuclear reactors.

That decision put the country on a somewhat lonely path towards a future without any of the tried-and-tested pillars of 20th century electricity production — part of a broader strain on Germany’s infrastructure that now spans energy, transport and digital networks.

With coal power also to be switched off in the coming years, Germany believes it will be able to keep hold of its heavy industry, while simultaneously electrifying its transport and heating sectors - all on the back of renewable energy.

When Germany closed down its last three reactors last April, sceptics predicted a future of high electricity prices, volatile supply and higher carbon emissions as coal would have to pick up the slack when the wind doesn't blow.

This week though, Energy Minister Robert Habeck said that the doubters had been proven wrong.

“Supply is always secured 24 hours a day, every day, the whole year long,” Habeck insisted.

What's more, wholesale electricity prices have dropped by 40 percent, while electricity produced by coal-fired plants had dropped to the lowest level in decades, the Green party politician added.

The expansion of renewable capacity is "gathering speed"; Germany is "on course" to meet its emissions reduction targets; the energy crisis has been "worked through" - these are the positive vibes being spread by the charismatic Mr Habeck as he seeks to put the tumult of the past two years behind him.

And they have been a rocky couple of years.