Out of step?

Germany currently has 40% of the world's installed wind power generation capacity: a staggering 16,000 turbines which are capable - occasionally - of generating up to 15% of the country's requirements. In practice, only 3% of the total power comes from wind, whereas one-third is from nuclear stations. The plans at present are to decommission each of these after 32 years, while still reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 40% below the 1990 baseline by 2020, by which time there would be no nuclear generating capacity left. This ambitious target is to be met by phasing out coal-fired power stations, but it is unclear what will replace them. There seem to be many in the country who are now questioning the wisdom of the strategy, and arguing for at least an extension of the operating life of existing nuclear stations. For more see the story Germany split over green energy on the BBC website.

Is a refreshing dash of realism finally entering the European energy policy debate?