German Solar Energy May Get a Boost from Japan's Nuclear Disaster

[Fledermaus]

Berlin, Germany – The nuclear power plant crisis unfolding in Japan after the massive earthquake has already caused political fallout in Germany and could usher in a new era of renewable energy in Europe's largest economy.

On Tuesday Germany became the first European country to shut nuclear plants in the wake of the crisis in Japan. The move by the German government to temporarily close seven older plants came just one day after Chancellor Angela Merkel had imposed a three-month moratorium on the extension of the country’s 17 nuclear power stations.

During this time, experts will carry out new security checks at all reactors and, equally important, policymakers in Berlin will debate whether or not to permanently reverse a policy that could have allowed energy companies to extend the operating lives of their reactors for 12 years.

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/03/german-solar-energy-may-get-a-boost-from-japans-nuclear-disaster