31 March 2011
EU: Nuclear moratorium opens the door to renewables
Germany's decision to shut down some of its nuclear power stations following problems with Japanese plants after the recent earthquake could spur long-term growth in renewable energy.
Germany's decision to shut down some of its nuclear power stations following problems with Japanese plants after the recent earthquake could spur long-term growth in renewable energy. But, for now, it will mainly be coal and gas that will fill the gap, increasing carbon emissions. In mid-March, German leader Angela Merkel closed the country's seven oldest nuclear stations for at least three months to carry out safety inspections and said some reactors may be decommissioned earlier than previously planned. Merkel also called for her country to speed up its move towards renewable energy to help fill any gap in electricity supply. BEE, a German renewable-energy industry association, said it was
Also in this section
9 January 2026
A shift in perspective is needed on the carbon challenge, the success of which will determine the speed and extent of emissions cuts and how industries adapt to the new environment
2 January 2026
This year may be a defining one for carbon capture, utilisation and storage in the US, despite the institutional uncertainty
23 December 2025
Legislative reform in Germany sets the stage for commercial carbon capture and transport at a national level, while the UK has already seen financial close on major CCS clusters
15 December 2025
Net zero is not the problem for the UK’s power system. The real issue is with an outdated market design in desperate need of modernisation






