The decommissioned nuclear power plant at Grafenrheinfeld in Germany has been successfully demolished after a brief delay caused by a protester. The plant, which included two 143-meter cooling towers, was originally scheduled for demolition at 17:30 local time but was pushed back to nearly 20:00 due to an activist chaining themselves to one of the towers in protest.
Construction of the Grafenrheinfeld NPP began in 1975, and it started commercial operations in 1982, serving as Germany’s oldest nuclear power plant. However, in 2015, the government decided to shut it down as part of their policy to transition away from nuclear power. The closure was seen as a significant step towards reducing the residual risks associated with nuclear power and reshaping the country’s energy supply.
While the closure of nuclear plants may have negative impacts on regional security of supply, it is essential for Germany to secure jobs and maintain production to support its clean power industry. The country’s ‘Energiewende’ strategy aims to have 80 percent of its electricity coming from renewable sources by 2050, with a quarter already being sourced sustainably.
The Grafenrheinfeld plant had provided over 11 percent of Bavaria’s energy during its operational period, and its demolition is seen as a step towards cleaner energy production. The concrete rubble from the towers will be used to fill collecting basins below, with the demolition creating around 55,000 tonnes of rubble. The mayor of Grafenrheinfeld, Christian Keller, noted the significance of the towers as a landmark and symbol for the community.
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