http://www.spiegel.de Daily news, analysis and opinion from Europe's leading newsmagazine and Germany's top news Web site. en Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:06:00 +0200 Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:06:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de http://www.spiegel.de/static/sys/logo_120x61.gif http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-faces-tough-decisions-as-it-dismantles-nuclear-plants-a-899063.html#ref=rss The dismantling of Germany's nuclear power plants will be one of the greatest tasks of the century as the country moves to phase out atomic energy. It will take at least until 2080 to complete the job. But what happens if energy utility companies who own the facilities go bust before the work is done? Fri, 10 May 2013 12:16:36 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-faces-tough-decisions-as-it-dismantles-nuclear-plants-a-899063.html The dismantling of Germany's nuclear power plants will be one of the greatest tasks of the century as the country moves to phase out atomic energy. It will take at least until 2080 to complete the job. But what happens if energy utility companies who own the facilities go bust before the work is done?]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/merkel-climate-advisor-blasts-politicians-for-doing-too-little-a-868024.html#ref=rss Politicians need to get their act together on climate change, says Chancellor Angela Merkel's leading climate advisor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber just days before the global warming conference in Qatar. The World Bank agrees, releasing a report on Monday highlighting the serious consequences that await should global temperatures continue rising unchecked. Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:17:38 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/merkel-climate-advisor-blasts-politicians-for-doing-too-little-a-868024.html Politicians need to get their act together on climate change, says Chancellor Angela Merkel's leading climate advisor Hans Joachim Schellnhuber just days before the global warming conference in Qatar. The World Bank agrees, releasing a report on Monday highlighting the serious consequences that await should global temperatures continue rising unchecked.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/energy-turnaround-in-germany-plagued-by-worrying-lack-of-progress-a-860481.html#ref=rss Germany plans to abandon nuclear power by 2022, but its government hasn't been doing enough to ensure that the project succeeds. Needed infrastructure and technology is lacking, and coordination is a mess. Meanwhile, weary consumers are paying more for electricity, and the supply is in jeopardy. Wed, 10 Oct 2012 18:06:27 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/energy-turnaround-in-germany-plagued-by-worrying-lack-of-progress-a-860481.html Germany plans to abandon nuclear power by 2022, but its government hasn't been doing enough to ensure that the project succeeds. Needed infrastructure and technology is lacking, and coordination is a mess. Meanwhile, weary consumers are paying more for electricity, and the supply is in jeopardy. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-offshore-wind-offensive-plagued-by-problems-a-852728.html#ref=rss Germany wants to pepper its northern seas with offshore wind turbines as part of its ambitious energy revolution. But strict laws, technology problems and multiple delays are turning the massive enterprise into an expensive fiasco. Investors and the public are losing patience. Tue, 04 Sep 2012 11:34:45 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/german-offshore-wind-offensive-plagued-by-problems-a-852728.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/problems-prompt-germany-to-rethink-energy-revolution-a-852815.html#ref=rss Germany's energy revolution is the government's only major project -- but the problems keep piling up. The pace of grid expansion is sluggish, and electricity costs for consumers are rising. The environment minister wants to fundamentally alter the way green energy is subsidized, but will it mean putting the brakes on the entire project? Wed, 29 Aug 2012 17:24:34 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/problems-prompt-germany-to-rethink-energy-revolution-a-852815.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-addresses-problems-with-renewable-energy-subsidy-system-a-852549.html#ref=rss The share of renewable energies in Germany's power mix has shot up so high that the electricity grid and the subsidy framework has been unable to keep up. Now, the government wants to slow down the process. German commentators say that the current chaos endangers the entire project. Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:55:04 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-addresses-problems-with-renewable-energy-subsidy-system-a-852549.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/rwe-s-new-ceo-terium-to-halt-nuclear-power-and-invest-in-renewables-a-841260.html#ref=rss Peter Terium takes over as CEO of RWE, Germany's second-largest energy producer, on July 1. In a SPIEGEL interview, he explained why he wants to halt nuclear power plant construction and invest in renewable energy instead. Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:56:00 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/rwe-s-new-ceo-terium-to-halt-nuclear-power-and-invest-in-renewables-a-841260.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-needs-miles-of-new-power-lines-to-make-energy-transition-a-835979.html#ref=rss Germany needs thousands of kilometers in new power lines in order to prepare for the country's planned nuclear phase-out, the country's main grid operators announced this week. Amid criticism that her energy revolution has stalled, Chancellor Angela Merkel has called for faster grid expansion. Wed, 30 May 2012 16:06:02 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-needs-miles-of-new-power-lines-to-make-energy-transition-a-835979.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-unprepared-for-nuclear-disaster-like-fukushima-a-823126.html#ref=rss If a nuclear disaster comparable to Fukushima were to hit a German nuclear plant, authorities would be unprepared to handle it, and scientific projections show that radiation would likely spread much further than previous estimates. But government agencies have done little to address the problem. Critics call the delay a "scandal." Thu, 22 Mar 2012 15:56:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-unprepared-for-nuclear-disaster-like-fukushima-a-823126.html If a nuclear disaster comparable to Fukushima were to hit a German nuclear plant, authorities would be unprepared to handle it, and scientific projections show that radiation would likely spread much further than previous estimates. But government agencies have done little to address the problem. Critics call the delay a "scandal."]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/energy-revolution-stalls-berlin-struggles-to-realize-nuclear-free-ambitions-a-820427.html#ref=rss In the wake of the Fukushima disaster, the German government made a sudden and unexpected decision to phase out nuclear power by 2022. But precious little progress has been made. Key questions remain unanswered while various ministries quibble over their roles and Chancellor Merkel focuses on the pressing euro crisis. Mon, 12 Mar 2012 13:19:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/energy-revolution-stalls-berlin-struggles-to-realize-nuclear-free-ambitions-a-820427.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/spiegel-interview-with-german-environment-minister-germans-are-willing-to-pay-for-renewable-energies-a-819413.html#ref=rss In a SPIEGEL interview, German Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen, 46, discusses the nuclear phase-out, controversial solar power subsidies and why he believes Chancellor Angela Merkel's energy revolution -- which will see the country move to clean energies -- is still on track. Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:30:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/spiegel-interview-with-german-environment-minister-germans-are-willing-to-pay-for-renewable-energies-a-819413.html In a SPIEGEL interview, German Environment Minister Norbert Röttgen, 46, discusses the nuclear phase-out, controversial solar power subsidies and why he believes Chancellor Angela Merkel's energy revolution -- which will see the country move to clean energies -- is still on track. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/setback-for-merkel-s-vision-funding-shortage-threatens-germany-s-energy-revolution-a-814905.html#ref=rss Germany's climate fund, a cornerstone of the government's much hyped transition towards renewable energy, has been massively underfunded during its first year of operation. The Green Party has accused the government of failing in its plan to create an energy revolution. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:41:42 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/setback-for-merkel-s-vision-funding-shortage-threatens-germany-s-energy-revolution-a-814905.html Germany's climate fund, a cornerstone of the government's much hyped transition towards renewable energy, has been massively underfunded during its first year of operation. The Green Party has accused the government of failing in its plan to create an energy revolution. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-curse-cancer-mysteriously-ravages-german-village-a-813852.html#ref=rss Cancer has struck nearly every household in Wewelsfleth, a village of 1,500 inhabitants in northwest Germany near the mouth of the Elbe River. Residents feel not only cursed, but also abandoned by authorities in their search for an elusive answer. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 11:07:49 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/the-curse-cancer-mysteriously-ravages-german-village-a-813852.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nuclear-nimbyism-germans-oppose-new-plants-next-door-a-808794.html#ref=rss Germany famously moved to phase out nuclear energy following the atomic disaster in Japan last spring. Now states in the country are skeptically eyeing plans in neighboring countries, including the Netherlands and Poland, to construct nuclear power plants. Fri, 13 Jan 2012 11:56:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/nuclear-nimbyism-germans-oppose-new-plants-next-door-a-808794.html Germany famously moved to phase out nuclear energy following the atomic disaster in Japan last spring. Now states in the country are skeptically eyeing plans in neighboring countries, including the Netherlands and Poland, to construct nuclear power plants. ]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/stress-on-the-high-seas-germany-s-wind-power-revolution-in-the-doldrums-a-805505.html#ref=rss The construction of offshore wind parks in the North Sea has hit a snag with a vital link to the onshore power grid hopelessly behind schedule. The delays have some reconsidering the ability of wind power to propel Germany into the post-nuclear era. Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:25:49 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/stress-on-the-high-seas-germany-s-wind-power-revolution-in-the-doldrums-a-805505.html The construction of offshore wind parks in the North Sea has hit a snag with a vital link to the onshore power grid hopelessly behind schedule. The delays have some reconsidering the ability of wind power to propel Germany into the post-nuclear era.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/paving-the-way-for-a-new-fukushima-is-berlin-still-in-the-nuclear-power-business-a-804687.html#ref=rss The German government may be getting out of the nuclear power business at home, but it is still active internationally. Berlin is currently reviewing applications for federal export guarantees for four nuclear projects abroad. Environmentalists are furious, saying the phaseout must also apply to the sale of atomic energy technology. Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:04:24 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/paving-the-way-for-a-new-fukushima-is-berlin-still-in-the-nuclear-power-business-a-804687.html The German government may be getting out of the nuclear power business at home, but it is still active internationally. Berlin is currently reviewing applications for federal export guarantees for four nuclear projects abroad. Environmentalists are furious, saying the phaseout must also apply to the sale of atomic energy technology.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/radioactive-cargo-delayed-thousands-of-protesters-obstruct-nuclear-waste-transport-a-800319.html#ref=rss Massive protests are putting the brakes on a train carrying radioactive waste from France to Germany. The annual shipment, always a focal point for protesters, has never before taken this long to reach its destination. Anti-nuclear demonstrators are gathering to impede the controversial convoy on its final stretch. Mon, 28 Nov 2011 15:33:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/radioactive-cargo-delayed-thousands-of-protesters-obstruct-nuclear-waste-transport-a-800319.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/vattenfall-vs-germany-nuclear-phase-out-faces-billion-euro-lawsuit-a-795466.html#ref=rss Swedish energy company Vattenfall reportedly plans to sue the German government, seeking massive damages related to Germany's phase-out of nuclear power. Vattenfall successfully took on the German government once before. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:57:17 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/vattenfall-vs-germany-nuclear-phase-out-faces-billion-euro-lawsuit-a-795466.html Swedish energy company Vattenfall reportedly plans to sue the German government, seeking massive damages related to Germany's phase-out of nuclear power. Vattenfall successfully took on the German government once before.]]> http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/atomic-art-anselm-kiefer-plans-to-buy-nuclear-power-station-a-795001.html#ref=rss Renowned German artist Anselm Kiefer is not afraid of taboos. Now the painter and sculptor wants to buy a nuclear power station. In an interview with SPIEGEL, Kiefer said he would acquire at least the cooling tower, though his exact plans for the "fantastic" structure remain uncertain. Mon, 31 Oct 2011 15:41:00 +0100 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/atomic-art-anselm-kiefer-plans-to-buy-nuclear-power-station-a-795001.html http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/revolution-threatens-to-falter-is-germany-s-green-energy-plan-failing-a-790940.html#ref=rss Germany has set higher targets for renewable energy usage than any other industrialized nation. Angela Merkel's government plans to decommission its nuclear plants by 2022 and to obtain 80 percent of all energy from renewables by 2050. So far, though, too many promises from Berlin have gone unfulfilled. Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:48:58 +0200 http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/revolution-threatens-to-falter-is-germany-s-green-energy-plan-failing-a-790940.html Germany has set higher targets for renewable energy usage than any other industrialized nation. Angela Merkel's government plans to decommission its nuclear plants by 2022 and to obtain 80 percent of all energy from renewables by 2050. So far, though, too many promises from Berlin have gone unfulfilled.]]>