It is heading for a full power crisis in both Norway and Europe. A German idiot decision on nuclear power in 2011 is part of the reason.
Comments expresses the writer’s opinions.
And now Germany and France are arguing so the rags are flying about nuclear power.
It is already well known that we are heading for a strong power crisis. Still, it is most likely just quiet before the storm. It is until the winter that this will be felt in earnest.
In the worst case, the power crisis could lead to a power outage, in which case most likely for the power-intensive industry. It will result in job losses.
Norwegian water reservoirs are emptied
The power crisis is already well visible in the Norwegian power system. The water reserves of the power plants, the so-called reservoir filling, are now available at record low levels and are declining rapidly. At this time of year, water reservoirs are often quite full and rising.
Source: NVE
Without water, there will be no electricity in Norway. Usually there is little precipitation which results in low reservoir filling and high electricity prices.
This is not the case this year.
There has admittedly not been much rainfall, but first and foremost the electricity crisis and European problem. Both on the continent and in the UK, there is a shortage of electricity and high electricity prices.
European power shortages have not previously been a problem for Norway.
Read also: Should Norwegian nature be sacrificed for Germany’s great climate loss?
This is no longer the case.
Through new power cables abroad and the European energy cooperation ACER, which Norway joined in 2018, Norway is part of the European power market.
High electricity prices abroad make it profitable for the power companies to drain the water reservoirs to produce electricity which is then exported. This means that electricity prices are rising in Norway at the same time.
This is exactly what is happening this year.
The Norwegian electricity crisis is a direct cause of the European electricity crisis.
Green switching contributes to power shortages
So what is the cause of the European power crisis?
An important reason is the green shift. In Europe, many countries are in the process of replacing polluting coal and gas power production with emission-free and green alternatives. The green alternatives are primarily wind power and solar energy. Both of these are weather dependent and unstable.
Here you can read more posts by Kjell-Magne Rystad
The fossil power production that can be removed, on the other hand, is stable and provides a secure power supply regardless of the weather. The green shift thus provides a more uncertain power supply in Europe and Norway. Little water, wind and sun cause problems. When gas and coal prices also become high, this becomes a “perfect storm”.
Two countries that have invested heavily in green electricity production are Germany and the United Kingdom. These two countries are especially important for the power supply in Norway because there are large countries that are close to us – and to which we have power cables directly.
In the UK, the power crisis is already receiving a great deal of attention.
Nuclear power is an important part of the solution
Another emission-free alternative is nuclear power. Many countries have nuclear power in their electricity production, including Germany, Great Britain and not least France, where nuclear power is dominant.
Read also: Sissener funds are heavy inside uranium: Do not believe in sun and wind
The UN Climate Panel has repeatedly stated that nuclear power is part of the solution to greenhouse gas emissions in particular. Nevertheless, many people can see nuclear power as green energy.
Nuclear power has been associated with and fierce fear of accidents. There have been a few accidents, but the extent of the damage has not been as catastrophic as the horror would suggest. Even the most serious, the Chernobyl accident in 1986, resulted in relatively few deaths and injuries.
This catastrophe, which has received enormous attention, resulted in 4,000 deaths. There are far more people who die annually from pollution from coal-fired power plants in the world.
If we are to take the climate problem seriously, this is a risk we must accept. The fear of nuclear power is not commensurate with the risk that has emerged.
Germany’s idiocy
In some countries, the fear of nuclear power is greater than in others. While nuclear power is completely accepted in the nuclear power country of France, the mood is completely different in Germany.
At the tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011 was Fukushima nuclear power plant destroyed. Around 20,000 people died in the tsunami. No one died in the accident at the nuclear power plant created by the tsunami.
Nevertheless, it was the nuclear power plant that created the most fear, and debate about nuclear power in several countries.
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In Germany, the debate degenerated into a panicked decision to phase out all nuclear power. As early as May of the same year, the government decided to shut down by 2022.
By 2022 is now. In a few months, the last German nuclear power plants will shut down. This is happening at the same time as the electricity crisis is a fact in both Europe and Norway.
Powerless climate summit in Glasgow?
At the beginning of November, a climate summit will be held in Glasgow. The specification of climate measures will be discussed there.
At the same time, there is now a full debate within the EU about whether nuclear power should be considered green. Germany and France are hard on each other.
When the climate summit is held and the EU’s nuclear power decision is to be made, the European electricity crisis will in all probability have developed from bad to worse. In the worst case, there will be a power outage.
Read also: Scientists: 1100 people die every year because Germany can make nuclear power
It is unlikely to give any popular enthusiasm for green change.
It is therefore not at all certain that only Extinction Rebellion will demonstrate outside the climate summit in Glasgow. There can be many angry electricity customers there as well.
Read more from the Norwegian debate here
Will force itself forward
Ironically, Germany’s idiotic decision from 2011 may be what forces the future greater investment in nuclear power in Europe.
It will be a great victory for both electricity customers and the climate. And a correspondingly great defeat for the German green (skollingen) e.
Thus, this can pave the way for a new investment in nuclear power as a climate-friendly solution.
The decision to shut down nuclear power, the most idiotic Germany has done since 1945, and may eventually prove to be good for both the climate and nuclear power.
Ironically enough.