Following the safety problems experienced at the Fukushima atomic power plant in Japan, German Chancellor Angela Merkel ordered a review of the 17 nuclear power plants in Germany. Since ordering this review she has announced that Germany plans to shut down all of their nuclear power plants by 2022.

Germany now wishes to become one of the greenest countries in the world, and is therefore planning huge development in renewable energy and also planning to take all possible measures to make energy savings.

Germany does not have natural gas or oil supplies, and with very little coal available the country is very limited in ways to generate electricity. Therefore if Germany wishes which is to stop using atomic energy to generate electricity, it is fair to say that they will have to take considerable steps to reduce the country’s energy consumption and also massively increase development of its renewable energy.

Germany currently manufactures excellent wind turbines and solar panels, and exports a huge number of these items to other countries.

The nuclear industry, obviously upset about these proposals, intend to oppose these plans, stating that 2022 was an unrealistic target and that they are considering all legal options available to them.