Nuclear power and the French energy transition: It’s the economics, stupid!

[Yo_Mama]

41. My "characterization" comes directly from the sources

Utilities in Germany, the largest power market and economy in Europe, have increased their use of coal-fired power plants continuously since the beginning of the year, Reuters reports. Analysts now project annual coal-fired power generation in 2012 will increase to 130 million megawatt-hours (MWhs), an increase of 15.5 million MWhs or 13.5 percent over 2011 levels.

German environmental groups are complaining and there are some lawsuits over some of these plants. Germany is having an argument over this, but the government has already accepted that they cannot change the situation unless they are prepared to subsidize the construction and operation of gas plants, which they are considering.

It doesn't have to work out this way in France. It is working out this way in Germany.

Here is an article with links to the German sources, conveniently summarized in English. You can say that what's happening isn't happening, but don't expect anyone to believe you who is interested and following the situation:
http://www.marklynas.org/2013/01/germanys-energiewende-the-story-so-far/

This is absolutely not the German PLAN, it's just how everything is working out. Wind generation actually fell in 2012. Maybe if they had hooked up the offshore wind farms. But now companies are planning on abandoning that, it seems.
http://www.marklynas.org/2013/01/germanys-energiewende-the-story-so-far/

The same thing is happening in the UK. There are multiple factors in each case, but the bottom line is that you have to have base power, the new-gen renewables aren't ever going to provide that, and in any case, someday when more storage is worked out they still have to make massive upgrades to the grid. In Germany that has been effectively stopped.

Instead of denying what is happening, Kristopher, perhaps we might discuss the roadblocks to a more effective transition? The Germans do not want this and it was not their intent. It is just the way it is working out. And the problem with the North Sea wind is becoming truly acute - companies are beginning to pull out:
http://www.germanenergyblog.de/?p=12232
Now maybe the situation is improving due to the Jan 1 offshore liability/cost transfer law:
http://www.germanenergyblog.de/?p=11949

But recent talk about taxing renewable subsidies isn't going to help, and every time one of these deals is made to transfer the costs to the consumer, the future becomes yet more uncertain. In the meantime, industrial companies in Germany are beginning to manufacture their own electricity, which makes the entire funding situation that much more problematic. One of the latest proposals is to impose the EEG surcharge on energy that is produced and consumed by the owner.