Germany Shuts Nuclear Plant as Deadline for Nuclear Exit Looms

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--With the closure of the Philippsburg 2 (KKP 2) reactor on New Year's Eve, Germany has six remaining reactors to close in the next two years to fulfil its promise to exit nuclear power completely.

Power company EnBW (Karlsruhe, Germany) confirmed that Philippsburg 2, a pressurized water reactor with an installed electrical output of 1,468 megawatts (MW), had been shut down to comply with the government's Atomic Energy Act on time. During the shutdown, the reactor output was continuously reduced by the stepwise insertion of so-called control rods into the reactor core. After the reactor power had been reduced, the generator was disconnected from the public power grid at around 6:55 p.m. on December 31.

Following the tragic events at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power station in Japan in March 2011, Germany surprised the world by announcing its intention to end its use of nuclear power. This resulted in the immediate shutdown of eight older nuclear power plants, followed by a shutdown schedule for the remaining nine plants by 2022. At the time, nuclear power accounted for 22% of Germany's electricity. Last year, it was 12%. For additional information, see May 30, 2011, article - Germany Votes to Dump Nuclear Power.

Philippsburg 1 was taken offline in 2011 and is currently being dismantled. EnBW stated that approval has been received and that it will start with the first preparatory work for the dismantling of Philippsburg 2 this year.

"We would like to thank our employees at the Philippsburg location," said Jörg Michels, head of EnBW's nuclear power division. "You have always contributed with full commitment to the safety of the nuclear power plant and thus to the safe power supply in Baden-Württemberg. Together we have ensured 40 years of safe electricity production at the Philippsburg site with the KKP 1 and KKP 2 blocks. From now on, Block 2 will also focus on safe and speedy dismantling - as has been the case with Block 1 since 2017. We are happy to be able to tackle this task with our experienced and competent employees, to whom we can open up an interesting professional perspective after the electricity production."

The actual dismantling of KKP 2 will start with the dismantling of the main coolant lines in the second half of 2020. Among the other first tasks will be the dismantling of the internals of the reactor pressure vessel, EnBW confirmed.

Alongside its exit from nuclear power, Germany's government has presented a bill to provide 40 billion euro ($43.9 billion) in support to the regions of the country that will be hardest hit by its decision to phase out coal-fired power and coal mining. For additional information, see September 9, 2019, article--Germany Offers $44 Billion to End Coal-Fired Power.

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