The nuclear debate in Germany took a surprising turn when the CDU/CSU coalition unveiled a plan to resurrect the country’s six decommissioned nuclear power plants. This policy shift would reverse Germany’s celebrated Atomausstieg (nuclear exit) that culminated with the final reactor shutdowns in April 2023. But it’s still unclear whether what’s really still a thought experiment is viable: politically or economically.
According to confidential documents obtained by Handelsblatt, the CDU proposes restarting these facilities—potentially through state ownership if current operators remain reluctant. “The plants have the potential to produce electricity safely, cost-effectively, and in a climate-friendly manner for another two decades,” argues CSU Bundestag member Andreas Lenz, who participated in recent coalition climate discussions.
The timing is critical. Every day of continued dismantling makes revival more technically challenging and expensive. CDU leader Friedrich Merz and CSU’s Markus Söder have labeled the nuclear phase-out a “historic mistake” that has undermined Germany’s industrial competitiveness amid high energy costs.
Martin Pache, Germany head of US nuclear company Westinghouse, sees no obstacles to extending reactor lifespans by 20 years: “In international comparison, operating lives of 60 years are now common for nuclear power plants. In the USA, license extensions to 80 years are already being implemented.”
Obviously, the plan faces substantial resistance, and it’s not just from the usual anti-nuke crowd. Nuclear operators RWE, E.ON, and EnBW appear thoroughly disillusioned after decades of policy whiplash—from the initial 2000 phase-out, to the 2010 extension, followed by the post-Fukushima reversal and the contentious final shutdown debate. CEO statements suggest minimal appetite for re-engaging with nuclear operations without substantial financial guarantees.
E.ON’s Leonard Birnbaum put it bluntly, telling Handelsblatt “We clearly want to dismantle. And we have absolutely no desire for delays from the political arena.”
The proposal envisions Uniper—the nationalized energy company that already operates nuclear facilities in Sweden—as a potential federal operator. But significant hurdles remain: changes to the Atomic Energy Act would trigger lengthy legal challenges, technical expertise has scattered, and billions in shutdown compensation might require repayment.
With the SPD firmly opposed to nuclear revival, Germany’s energy future hangs in the balance of coalition politics. It’s frankly still unclear if is this a serious policy pivot, or merely political positioning.
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