Environmental regulators have rejected a proposal from RWE to transfer unused capacity from its shut-down Muelheim-Kaerlich PWR and transfer it to Biblis A in order to extend its operational lifespan.
German environment minister Sigmar Gabriel has reportedly not made a decision on an alternative scheme from RWE to transfer capacity from its newest reactor, at Emsland, to Biblis A
In September, RWE filed its petition to transfer some 30 TWh of capacity in the hope that it could continue to operate Biblis A until 2011, three years beyond its current decommissioning date of 2008.
Speculation is growing that a flat rejection by Gabriel may lead RWE to pursue its objectives through the courts. However, Gabriel recent highlighted a pilot study drawn up by the German Aerospace Center (DLR), which found the share of renewables in Germany could reach about 16% by 2020. Gabriel said this meant that Germany would be able to meet ambitious climate protections targets while phasing out nuclear power. “There will be no gap in electricity supply and therefore no reason to change our phase-out plans. The annual increase of renewable energies in the electricity sector alone about equals the annual output of a nuclear power plant in terms of figures,” he said.
Vattenfall also recently applied for a transfer of 15 TWh from Mülheim-Kärlich to the Brunsbüttel (KKB) plant in which E.ON has a one third share. The plan would allow the plant to operate for a further two years to 2011.
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