A memorandum of understanding has been signed by representatives from politics business and science aimed at establishing a laser-based nuclear fusion power plant at the former Biblis nuclear power plant in the German state of Hesse by 2035 The MoU was signed on 13 March by the Hessian state government under the leadership of Minister-President Boris Rhein Minister of Economic Affairs Kaweh Mansoori the GSI Helmholtz Centre as well as Schott and other industrial companies It was signed during the first Round Table on Nuclear Fusion the signatories commit to pursuing the path to commercial fusion energy for Hesse and establishing the state as a leading location for cutting-edge research and the development of laser-based nuclear fusion a power plant will be funded at the Biblis site The two-unit plant was shut down in March 2011 in response to the accident at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi plant The declaration also aims to establish a state-of-the-art fusion technology centre in Hesse "We need an energy mix that is open to all technologies and the wind doesn't always blow," Minister-President Rhein said "Only if energy is available at all times and remains affordable for everyone can we secure our prosperity Nuclear fusion can be the game changer and bring about the decisive breakthrough." He added: "It is a very good signal that the future federal government intends to promote fusion research more strongly and is pursuing the goal of building the world's first fusion reactor in Germany .. I am firmly convinced that we can make nuclear fusion the energy supplier of the future Biblis should become a nucleus for energy supply 'made in Hesse' - and Hesse should thus become the number one location for nuclear fusion The state government is providing up to EUR20 million (USD21.8 million) this year for nuclear fusion research." the government also intends to use private funds and funding from federal and EU programmes "With companies like Focused Energy in Darmstadt and the excellent local scientific institutions we have players who are setting standards in international fusion research," said State Minister of Economic Affairs  Kaweh Mansoori "This offers Hesse a historic opportunity not only to develop a key technology This is a crucial step towards strengthening our innovative strength and independence at a time when international supply chains and energy imports are becoming increasingly uncertain." co-founder of Focused Energy and Professor of Laser and Plasma Physics at TU Darmstadt said: "Germany now has a historic opportunity to become a leader in the industrialisation of fusion energy Hesse is already a world leader in laser fusion research and has everything in its hands to take the lead in the construction and operation of fusion power plants." "We are currently investing very heavily in German innovation in Biblis and Darmstadt," added Thomas Forner also co-founder and President of Focused Energy "Fusion energy is indispensable for the economy and society of the future and can become a game changer in energy generation for Germany." Focused Energy was founded in 2021 as a technology spin-off of TU Darmstadt and National Energetics to commercialise fusion and is based in German and the USA Its approach to creating nuclear fusion power uses a focused proton beam to ignite millimetre-scale sphere deuterium/tritium fuel targets to create fusion reactions which it says builds on the work achieved by the National Ignition Facility laser at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Focused Energy received funding of EUR2.5 million of which EUR500,000 came from state funds and EUR2 million from the European Regional Development Fund a new funding programme for nuclear fusion research was announced by Germany's Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger aimed at paving the way for the first fusion power plant to be constructed in Germany by 2040 State of Hesse wants to become hub for new reactor technologies US-German startup Focused Energy has signed an agreement with energy company RWE and the German state of Hesse to build a 1GW fusion energy pilot plant at the former Biblis nuclear plant site by 2035, Reuters reported The report follows a recent announcement that Hesse has formed a nuclear fusion industry consortium as part of efforts to position the region as a hub for development and deployment of new reactor technologies a spinoff from Technische Universität Darmstadt which is developing laser fusion technology was shut down following Berlin’s decision to phase out nuclear power It had two pressurised water reactor units that began commercial operation in 1975 and 1977 The facility was owned and operated by RWE Focused Energy chief executive officer Scott Mercer described the non-binding agreement as a step towards establishing a global supply chain for fusion technology Germany has shut down its commercial nuclear power plants announced plans to create a regulatory framework for fusion technology in Germany and Europe in November 2024 In March 2024, former federal research minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger – who has represented Hesse in parliament – launched a funding programme for the sector She said at the time: “The global race is on I would like us in Germany to be among the first to build a fusion power plant especially with a view to growth and prosperity.” business and science have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a laser-based nuclear fusion demonstration power plant by 2035 at the former Biblis NPP in the German state of Hesse The MOU was signed during the first Round Table on Nuclear Fusion Signatories included the Hessian state government led by Minister-President Boris Rhein the Technical University (TU) of Darmstadt the GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research in Darmstadt as well as Schott and other industrial companies The MOU commits to pursuing commercial fusion energy in Hesse establishing the state as a focus for research and the development of laser-based nuclear fusion A demonstration plant and subsequent power plant will be funded at the Biblis site A state-of-the-art fusion technology centre will be established in Hesse to promote research was shut down in March 2011 in response to the Fukushima Daiichi accident It has been undergoing demolition since 2017 The operation to dismantle the two reactors is expected to take about 15 years Two of the cooling towers were demolished in 2023 Dismantling of the two reactors is expected to take about 15 years “We need an open-technology energy mix because the sun does not always shine and the wind does not blow constantly We can only secure our prosperity if energy is available at all times and remains affordable for everyone,” said Hesse Prime Minister Boris Rhein “Nuclear fusion can be the game changer and bring the decisive breakthrough.” He added: “We want to establish Hesse as the leading location for cutting-edge research and development of laser-based nuclear fusion and pave the way for commercial fusion energy a demonstration plant and later a power plant are to be funded at the Biblis site.” He said leading research for innovative forms of energy must take place again in Germany “It is a very good signal that the future federal government wants to promote fusion research more and is pursuing the goal of building the world’s first fusion reactor in Germany.” In March 2024 a new funding programme for nuclear fusion research was announced by Germany’s Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger aimed at paving the way for the first fusion power plant to be constructed in Germany by 2040 Rhein said he was “firmly convinced that we can make nuclear fusion the energy supplier of the future” and that “Biblis is to become a nucleus for energy supply” The Hesse government is providing up to €20m ($21.7m) for research into nuclear fusion this year in addition to state investments private funds and grants from federal and EU programmes Hesse Deputy Prime Minister Kaweh Mansoori noted: “With companies such as Focused Energy in Darmstadt and the excellent scientific institutions on site we have actors who set standards in international fusion research For Hesse there is a historic opportunity here This is a crucial step to strengthen our innovative strength and independence at a time when international supply chains and energy imports are becoming increasingly uncertain I am convinced that the energy industry and the industrial landscape in Hesse can be expanded to the future we want to promote the development of a highly developed infrastructure and the creation of new jobs in research Art & Culture said fusion energy offers great long-term potential “We want to establish Hesse as a leading location for cutting-edge research and the development of laser-based nuclear fusion we want to conduct research on short- and medium-term marketable renewable energies and storage technologies in order to become climate neutral by 2045.” co-founder of Focused Energy and Professor of Laser & Plasma Physics at TU Darmstadt said: “Germany now has a historic opportunity to become a leader in the industrialisation of fusion energy Hesse is already a world leader in laser fusion research and has everything in its hands to take the lead in the construction and operation of fusion power plants.” Focused Energy was founded in 2021 as a technology spin-off of TU Darmstadt and National Energetics to commercialise fusion and is based in Germany and the US Focused Energy received funding of €2.5m comprising €500,000 from state funds and€2m from the European Regional Development Fund Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the Progressive Media network © Business Trade Media International Limited 5Space🚀Scientists aboard a plane with 26 cameras chase burning satellite and film its fiery fallChris Young18 hours ago 9Military🚀China deploys 5,000-ton torpedo frigate to hunt US nuclear submarines in open seasKapil Kajal20 hours ago 10Military🚀UK gets drone wingmen to make F-35 fighters invisible to even the smartest radarsJijo Malayil20 hours ago 1Culture🌟Tech games: Elon Musk wins as Sam Altman's Open AI drops full-profit shift for nowSujita Sinha2 hours ago 4Culture🌟Trump’s secure messaging app hacked, deportation airline also hit by cyberattackAamir Khollam11 hours ago 5Energy🌟US scientists end 70-year fusion struggle, paving way for better reactorsAamir Khollam13 hours ago 7Science🌟In a first, protons in biological system seen following quantum rules: Study Mrigakshi Dixit14 hours ago 9Space🌟US orders NASA to build first lunar time zone to guide astronauts on the MoonAamir Khollam14 hours ago Sujita Sinha Wikipedia Fusion energy start-up Focused Energy has signed an agreement with German energy giant RWE to build a 1GW fusion power plant The facility will be constructed at the former Biblis nuclear power plant site in Hesse Fusion is considered a potential game-changer for clean energy offering nearly limitless power without harmful emissions It replicates the Sun’s energy process by fusing two hydrogen isotopes at extremely high temperatures Scientists and companies worldwide are racing to commercialize fusion but large-scale adoption remains a distant goal due to the massive infrastructure required The agreement aims to establish a fusion pilot plant by 2035 This marks a major step in Germany’s energy transition as the country has moved away from nuclear power RWE has been dismantling the Biblis nuclear plant since 2017 after it was permanently shut down in 2011 following Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear energy Focused Energy is a spin-off from the Technical University of Darmstadt and National Energetics with offices in San Francisco and Darmstadt The company is working on commercial-scale fusion energy using a direct-drive laser inertial fusion method This approach involves using a focused proton beam to ignite tiny deuterium/tritium fuel spheres The company claims that its technique is the first to demonstrate the possibility of net-positive fusion power significant technical challenges remain before the technology becomes commercially viable Focused Energy’s CEO Scott Mercer described the deal with RWE as a key step in establishing a supply chain for global fusion energy deployment. He told Reuters “This would be the beginning and the learning lesson towards building a supply chain for what would eventually be global deployment.” Germany’s interest in fusion energy has increased significantly. Mercer pointed out that the German government’s commitment to fusion is “two orders of magnitude higher than it has been in the US.” The fusion pilot plant will rely on advanced solid-state laser technology to generate energy A spokesperson from RWE emphasized the company’s commitment to advancing fusion energy in Germany “We want to contribute by providing our infrastructure at the Biblis site and our experience as an operator of nuclear facilities to advance fusion technology in Germany,” the spokesperson told Reuters The push for fusion energy is gaining momentum worldwide the government has pledged £410 million to accelerate fusion energy development with the goal of building a prototype plant by 2040 Meanwhile, France has made a breakthrough in high-confinement plasma operations. In February 2025, French scientists sustained plasma confinement for 1,337 seconds surpassing China’s previous record of 1,066 seconds As nations compete to harness fusion’s potential Germany’s latest project could be a milestone in proving the feasibility of large-scale fusion energy it may help shape the future of global energy production 0COMMENTABOUT THE AUTHORSujita Sinha A versatile writer Sujita has worked with Mashable Middle East and News Daily 24 you can find her glued to the latest web series and movies By clicking sign up, you confirm that you accept this site's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Premium Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker The energy pilot plant will be constructed at the Biblis nuclear site Focused Energy signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) with RWE and others to form a consortium to invest in fusion energy in Hesse with the goal of building a pilot plant at the Biblis site was shut down following Berlin’s decision to exit nuclear power Focused Energy CEO Scott Mercer described the non-binding agreement as a step towards establishing a global supply chain for fusion technology, as reported by Reuters “The plant would be the beginning and the learning lesson towards building a supply chain for what would eventually be global deployment,” he stated Mercer highlighted the significance of interest from RWE Germany’s coalition government and Hesse in making the laser-driven fusion project a reality “The seriousness of the federal government in Germany towards pursuing fusion as part of the energy mix is two orders of magnitude higher than it has been in the US,” he noted Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis Efforts to replicate fusion reactions have been ongoing for decades using magnets or lasers to create a sustainable energy source free from greenhouse gases and long-lasting radioactive waste achieved a scientific gain in energy from fusion reactions Challenges for fusion include developing a supply chain for lasers sustaining reactions and integrating energy into power grids The solid-state lasers planned for the pilot plant are 30 times more efficient than those used by the US lab The estimated cost of the plant is between €5bn and €7bn ($5.4bn to $7.6bn) with expectations for subsequent plants to become more cost-effective The Hesse government has allocated €20m for fusion research and development RWE expressed its commitment to advancing fusion technology in Germany by offering infrastructure at the Biblis site and leveraging its experience as a nuclear facility operator RWE also recently announced a power purchase agreement with Meta for the offtake from its 200MW Waterloo solar project in Texas – its third long-term contract with the American multinational technology conglomerate View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network Not far from one of Germany’s many retired nuclear power plants is a new kind of generator never before seen on the country’s electricity grid the 300-megawatt (MW) Biblis Grid Stability Power Plant has one job and one job only: to ensure stability in tense grid situations such flexible operating resources are important for secure grid operation can come on strong in less than 10 minutes after a push-button start general manager for GE Vernova’s aeroderivative business which engineered the plant for Germany’s RWE utility says Biblis is “really a short-duration energy solution coming on just for two or four hours at a time.” A 300-MW power plant would typically be configured with a single giant turbine a utility can fine-tune its response to grid demand if only two or three of the turbines are needed the Biblis plant is expected to mostly run at the full 300-MW level “The plant has kind of broken the glass ceiling and shown that if you go with smaller aeroderivative gas turbines it actually offers you more flexibility and broader ability to respond to grid variation fluctuation issues,” says Joshi Germany has been heavily criticized for shutting down its nuclear plants this past spring and startups and shutdowns take a long time As Germany’s renewables and hydropower reach an ever higher share of the power grid — hitting 41% in 2021 — the most flexible backup source is increasingly natural gas the LM2500XPRESS is already capable of burning up to a 35% hydrogen blend The Biblis project faced a number of hurdles as it passed through COVID and then Europe-wide energy disruptions brought on by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine project management director for Europe at Gas Power Germany has both ambitious climate goals and a tough regulatory web for all infrastructure trying to meet those goals I can really define the success of the project as the ability to cooperate and harmonize all steps in alignment with local authorities and service providers to comply with rules and regulations that are very specific to that part of Germany and complete this project quickly,” Koklu says.  The Biblis Grid Stability Power Plant has come online at the perfect time to test its capabilities: as the sun returns to Europe solar supply soars to incredibly high levels and then crashes hard at day’s end will see more than 16 hours of sunshine on the longest day in June “In mid-April we got a call from the grid operator that they needed at least 286 MW quickly,” Koklu recalls “The plant was called upon remotely to start 10 of the 11 express turbines and within 10 minutes we had a supply of 300 MW consistent feedback across the board has been excellent.” Koklu explained that the 11th turbine is actually a spare: It can create power when another one undergoes maintenance.  the Biblis plant is just one small piece of Germany’s strategy to efficiently manage the nation’s long-term energy supply The aim is to pluck as few of those natural gas strings as possible while the rest of the grid sings with renewable energy A groundbreaking project led by Focused Energy is developing the world’s first laser-driven neutron source for industrial applications The innovative Laser-Driven Radiation Source (LDRS) technology is designed to inspect large and complex objects involves collaboration between the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) RWE has provided facilities at its Biblis site while the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research has contributed €20 million in funding The Laser-Driven Radiation Source (LDRS) technology allows for non-destructive examination not just through thick steel or concrete walls This cutting-edge project involves key partners such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen with RWE providing facilities at the Biblis site The Federal Ministry of Education and Research is backing the initiative with €20 million in funding The PLANET project aims to develop a laser-based neutron source by integrating various components from the partners and demonstrating its use for non-invasive inspections of nuclear waste containers is the first non-destructive method capable of examining large structures like bridges these inspections required massive particle accelerators to produce neutron beams LDRS offers a more compact and affordable solution functioning like an advanced X-ray system that reveals fine structural details and material compositions The breakthrough in this technology lies in the neutron source powered by a high-energy laser which generates neutrons through particle reactions The PLANET project includes several interconnected sub-projects and Focused Energy developing a high-power laser capable of firing 100 times per second at a self-renewing target created by Focused Energy and TU Darmstadt This laser achieves the same particle acceleration over a few millimeters that conventional accelerators need hundreds of meters for ensures stable and reproducible particle beam production which is then converted into directed neutrons and X-rays for inspecting the interior of various components and containers Photonis Germany is working on a large-area highly sensitive detector to capture these neutron and X-ray emissions producing high-resolution images much like conventional radiology applies its patented LDRS process to analyze the data and determine the composition and condition of the examined containers high-power neutron source can be used on-site RWE is providing a facility at the former Biblis nuclear power plant which will be transformed by Focused Energy into a research center and the pilot installation for this innovative technology TRUMPF is a leading high-tech company providing advanced manufacturing solutions in the fields of machine tools and laser technology It plays a pivotal role in enhancing digital connectivity in manufacturing through a comprehensive range of consulting services As one of the top innovators and market leaders TRUMPF specializes in highly flexible machine tools for sheet metal processing and is a major force in industrial laser technology TRUMPF employed around 18,550 people and reported sales of approximately €5.2 billion The company operates globally with about 90 subsidiaries TRUMPF’s manufacturing footprint spans several countries With its cutting-edge technology and expansive global presence TRUMPF continues to drive innovation and efficiency in manufacturing making significant contributions to industries worldwide The story of ‘MAKE IN INDIA’ has reached far and wide. But who are makers of ‘MAKE IN INDIA’? What is their story? ‘Machine Maker’ is a dedicated magazine that seeks to bring the incredible stories... Read more info@themachinemaker.com +91-703-093-2700 Contact Us India's Top RWE leads a €5-7 billion German fusion energy project at the Biblis site aims to revolutionize clean energy production Germany's ambitious energy transition is taking a giant leap into the future with RWE at the forefront Germany’s new conservative government announced plans for a regulatory framework for fusion technology signaling a significant shift in its energy policy This bold move has attracted considerable investment with RWE playing a crucial role in a landmark fusion energy project has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to build a €5-7 billion pilot fusion plant at the decommissioned Biblis nuclear site This initiative represents a significant investment in a technology still in its early stages but one with the potential to revolutionize energy production with its expertise in nuclear facility operation the German government's proactive stance on fusion technology described by Focused Energy CEO Scott Mercer as "two orders of magnitude higher" than in the US The solid-state lasers planned for the pilot plant are significantly more efficient than those used in previous experiments RWE's commitment to sustainable energy extends beyond fusion The company has secured numerous power purchase agreements including a deal with Meta for 100% of the energy from its Waterloo solar project in Texas This highlights RWE's diversified approach to clean energy and its focus on delivering reliable and sustainable power solutions globally While the potential benefits of fusion energy are enormous – a clean sustainable energy source free of greenhouse gases and long-lasting radioactive waste – challenges remain Developing a robust global supply chain for the necessary technology sustaining fusion reactions over long periods and integrating fusion energy into existing power grids are significant hurdles RWE's involvement in the Biblis fusion project underscores its forward-thinking approach to energy the potential rewards of successful fusion energy are immense alongside RWE’s investments in solar demonstrates a commitment to securing a sustainable energy future The success of this project could shape the global energy landscape for decades to come The project aims to develop and demonstrate fusion energy as a clean and sustainable energy source Success would revolutionize energy production by providing a virtually limitless RWE possesses significant expertise in large-scale energy projects and given the Biblis site's history with nuclear energy a pre-existing infrastructure and skilled workforce beneficial to the complex undertaking The exact government contribution isn't specified but the total project cost is estimated between €5 and €7 billion suggesting substantial government funding and support given the scale of the venture and its national importance The pilot plant is being built at the Biblis site in Germany a location with a pre-existing infrastructure which might have reduced initial development costs and streamlined the process thanks to the legacy of nuclear power expertise at that location Fusion power faces significant technological hurdles controlled fusion reactions that produce more energy than they consume is extremely complex Cost and safety considerations also present major challenges This project aims to push the boundaries in solving some of these issues All trademarks are the property of their respective owners All rights reserved @ 2025 Nishtya Infotech (India) Ltd The cooling tower was the first of two at the Biblis A reactor to be demolished The tower was brought down on 2 February after specialists weakened the structure by making slots in the concrete shell and removing supports to such an extent that it collapsed in a controlled manner The surrounding buildings and high-voltage lines were not affected "The project was prepared intensively," said plant manager Ralf Stüwe "The successful demolition of the first cooling tower shows that we are tackling the challenges of dismantling safely and mastering them responsibly." "The successful demolition of the first cooling tower is another milestone at the Biblis site," said Nikolaus Valerius Member of the Board of Management of RWE Power AG responsible for the nuclear energy division "This makes the continuous progress of the dismantling of the plant which has been going on since the summer of 2017 The two reactors at Biblis were among the eight units ordered to be shut down immediately after the March 2011 accident at Fukushima Daiichi Biblis A and B - which are pressurised water reactors rated at 1167 MWe and 1240 MWe respectively - had been licensed to operate until 2019 and 2021 just two months before the shutdown order RWE submitted applications in August 2012 to Hesse's ministry of the environment agriculture and consumer protection for the decommissioning and dismantling of the two reactors The application outlined in detail the proposed approach the procedures to be followed and the precautions to ensure radiation protection A detailed safety report was also prepared and an environmental impact assessment carried out the ministry approved RWE's plan for decommissioning the reactors allowing dismantling of the units to start The operation to dismantle the two reactors is expected to take about 15 years in total Some are necessary and we can’t switch them off Others help us to provide you with the best possible service We use cookies to personalise content and ads to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic We also share anonymous information about your use of our site with our social media By accepting cookies you will be helping us to continue to provide you with the best possible service The first of four cooling towers at the Biblis Nuclear Power Station in Germany has been demolished Biblis Power Station is owned by German multinational energy company RWE Group and is located south of Frankfurt on the Rhine river was brought down on the morning of Thursday 2 February While the name of the demolition contractor was not disclosed the works are part of plans that will see the entire facility dismantled and a new 300 MW gas-fired power plant built on the Biblis site Collapse of the cooling tower was achieved by the insertion of precisely positioned slots in the tower’s concrete shell and by removing structural supports until it came down the use of the controlled collapse method was chosen over the use of explosives as the tower was situated in close proximity to other buildings and high-voltage power lines member of the Executive Board of RWE Power AG said: “The successful demolition of the first cooling tower is another milestone at the Biblis site “This means that the continuous progress of the dismantling of the plant will also be visible to the outside world.” Around 15,000 t of rubble was produced by the tower’s demolition which will be recycled after the controlled collapse of its sister tower later this month.  RWE said the resulting rubble from both towers will be recycled into aggregates for use in the production of cement and concrete The two remaining cooling towers belonging to Block B are currently scheduled to be taken down in 2024 plant manager at Biblis Nuclear Power Station said: “The project was intensively prepared “The successful demolition of the first cooling tower shows that we are tackling the challenges of dismantling safely and mastering them responsibly.” Biblis Power Station was shut down in 2011 after almost 50 years in operation The first phase of deconstruction saw the installation of a processing and treatment facility inside the plant’s existing buildings components and technical installations could be dismantled and cleaned to reduce radioactive waste You’ve reached your limit of premium article views this month Become a Plus Member today and gain further access to the content Unique marketing services that create demand for your products locally Marketing Services Download Media Kits Biblis is a 300MW gas-fired grid reserve power plant located in Hesse state in Germany The power plant is owned and operated by RWE Transmission system operator Amprion awarded the contract to build the power plant to RWE in November 2020 The turbine units became operational for the first time in June 2022 and full operations commenced at the plant in March 2023 The Biblis power plant is located in the Bergstrasse district of the Biblis municipality in the southern Hesse region It is developed on a former car parking area south of the existing Biblis nuclear power plant The Biblis gas-fired power plant was developed to generate electricity quickly and guarantee grid stability to ensure a reliable energy supply in southern Germany The project is part of a number of grid stability power plants being developed by transmission system operators Amprion TenneT and TransnetBW as Germany transitions to renewable energy Germany plans to achieve 80% of its electricity production from renewable energy by the end of the decade, while phasing out coal-fired power plants and exiting nuclear power The Biblis nuclear plant is being retired as part of these energy transition goals The grid stability power plants are designed to meet strict requirements The Biblis gas-fired power plant is equipped with 11 identical GE LM2500XPRESS gas turbine units with a capacity of 34MW each as well as auxiliary equipment and fuel supply and network connections The plant can maintain the 300MW capacity even during scheduled maintenance or when one or more turbines break down The plant’s capacity will not be deployed to the market but will become operational upon request from Amprion to maintain grid stability during an emergency or to prevent potential power outages The plant can produce power in under half an hour upon request from the operator It is permitted to operate for a maximum of 1,500 hours a year The LM2500XPRESS aeroderivative gas turbine technology from GE is available in both simple and combined-cycle options suitable for 50Hz and 60Hz utility providers The turbines can achieve full power in under five minutes the turbines have a power output of 34MW and achieve a maximum efficiency of 39.5% The turbines can achieve an output of 47MW with as much as 54.4% efficiency in the combined-cycle operation The turbines are assembled into simple modules which can be installed quickly The turbines are connected to the electrical grid through a 380kV high-voltage T168 gas-insulated substation (GIS) at the Biblis plant site The T168GIS substation is the first outdoor GIS to be installed in Germany It can help in tackling issues with 550kV networks for applications including power generation and transmission The substation has environment-friendly features such as low gas weights and a state-of-the-art SF6 sealing system It has a fully digital monitoring system that can be easily integrated into the smart grid The LM2500XPRESS gas turbine units and T168GIS were supplied by GE under a contract awarded in December 2020 The turbine units were manufactured at GE’s manufacturing facility located in Veresegyhaz The second of four cooling towers at Germany’s Biblis NPP in southern Hesse As with the first tower three weeks before a pneumatic excavator from a special company worked on the last support pillars to destabilise the tower and eventually bring it down The second of four cooling towers at Germany’s Biblis NPP in southern Hesse Everything worked as planned," said RWE spokesman Alexander Scholl The two pressurised water reactors began operation in 1974 and 1976 The two reactors were among the eight units Germany ordered to be closed after Fukushima Biblis A&B are pressurised water reactors rated at 1,167 MWe and 1,240 MWe They had been licensed to operate until 2019 and 2021 just two months before the shutdown order RWE said approximately 15,000 tonnes of conventional construction waste will be produced for each tower RWE added that the quality of the concrete means most of the material can be recycled as a substitute for gravel in concrete production or as an aggregate in the cement industry There are 108 Castor containers with used fuel stores at the onsite interim storage facility As yet Germany has no final disposal facility but plans are underway Image: The second cooling tower at the Biblis nuclear power plant is destabilised and demolished (courtesy of RWE) Permits to decommission Germany's Biblis nuclear power plant are to be issued to RWE Power following approval of its plans by the ministry of the environment in the state of Hesse Germany's reaction to the Fukushima accident in March 2011 was immediate and extreme with Chancellor Angela Merkel making two decisions: one to order a shutdown of eight units that started operation in or before 1980 for a three-month moratorium period; and subsequently that those units may not be allowed to restart Without consultation or reference to independent regulatory advice on the safety of the plants the orders were executed by the German states which are home to the reactors The two reactors at Biblis were among the eight units to be ordered to be shut down Biblis A and B - which are pressurized water reactors rated at 1167 MWe and 1240 MWe respectively - had been licensed to operate until 2019 and 2021 just two months before the shutdown order RWE Power submitted applications in August 2012 to Hesse's ministry of the environment The ministry has now approved RWE Power's plan for decommissioning the reactors "The dismantling of units A and B of the Biblis nuclear power plant can be started immediately," environment minister Priska Hinz said in a statement yesterday the authorisations include the right of RWE Power to finalise the operation of units A and B of the nuclear power plant in Biblis in southern Hesse and the dismantling of plant parts as well as the right to process store and dispose of radioactive wastes," the ministry said "The approval for unit B also covers the further handling of irradiated fuel elements since The campaign for the removal of nuclear fuel will begin this year." said: "Today we have successfully completed the long-standing approval process which has involved much work for the power plant team This is an important milestone for the decommissioning and the direct dismantling of our power station." "We are well prepared to begin safe decommissioning We have the goal to release the existing buildings from the atomic law in about 15 years." He added "The dismantling of the Biblis power plant is a major challenge the German Supreme Administrative Court ruled that the state of Hesse acted illegally by enforcing the government's decision to shut the Biblis plant backing up a decision made in February 2013 by the Administrative Court of Hesse The Federal Constitutional Court ruled last December that although the country's 2011 phase-out legislation is essentially in compliance with the constitution power utilities are entitled to "reasonable" compensation for the early shutdown of their reactors the legislator must draw up new provisions in the legislation governing this compensation by the end of June 2018 Researched and writtenby World Nuclear News The first of four cooling towers has been demolished at Germany’s Biblis The first of four cooling towers has been demolished at Germany’s Biblis The 80-metre-high tower was brought down after specialists weakened the structure by making slots in the concrete shell and removing supports to enable a controlled collapse The controlled collapse of unit A's second cooling tower is currently planned for the second half of February Management Board member responsible for the nuclear energy division at plant owner RWE Power The waste from unit A will be processed after the demolition of the second cooling tower The two Biblis reactors were among the eight units Germany ordered to be closed after Fukushima RWE in 2012 to the Hesse's Ministry of the Environment Agriculture & Consumer Protection to decommission and dismantle the two reactors The application detailed the proposed approach A detailed safety report was prepared and an environmental impact assessment carried out Am stillgelegten Atomkraftwerk Biblis ist die Feuerwehr wegen des Hochwassers im Dauereinsatz Das benachbarte Groß-Rohrheim sucht weiter freiwillige Helfer RWE Generation was awarded the contract for building and operating a gas-fired grid reserve plant in Biblis by transmission system operators (TSO) Amprion The “grid stability plant” will be built just south of the current power plant site It will provide a secure capacity of 300 megawatts and will come on stream by October 2022 “We are delighted that we were awarded the contract for the Biblis site The excellent existing infrastructure there and our reliable and flexible concept for the plant have won out We will thus be able to make an important contribution towards security of supply in Southern Hesse” The plant will not be available to the open electricity market; instead it will only be operated on the request of system operators to ensure a secure and reliable supply of electricity The objective is to be able to supply electricity at short notice using a gas-fired power station in order to ensure system stability going forward RWE generated more than 500 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in the nuclear power plant units A and B at the Biblis site The gas-fired power plant will be built on a car park outside the site of the decommissioned and fuel-free former nuclear power station Since 1 June 2017,the Biblis nuclear power plant units A and B have been shut down and are in the process of being dismantled It is planned to release the plant from the requirements of the Atomic Energy Act within the next 15 years the last remaining power plants in Germany will be decommissioned The use of renewable energy sources is continuously being expanded and the grid infrastructure is not being adapted as quickly as is necessary The rapidly progressing energy transition presents system operators and energy suppliers with the increasingly difficult task of continuously ensuring a secure and reliable supply of energy “Grid stability plants” are one of the building blocks towards overcoming this challenge Foreign Affairs has been the leading forum for serious discussion of American foreign policy and global affairs The magazine has featured contributions from many leading international affairs experts ULRICH KÜHN and TRISTAN VOLPE are Fellows in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Follow them on Twitter @UliTKuehn and @TeeAndersVolpe Ulrich Kühn and Tristan Volpe Some hoped that Trump meant to push NATO members to spend more on defense but would argued that the days when Germany could rely on the United States for its defense were over—and that the country must start looking out for itself those calling for a German bomb are a fringe minority Germany has stood as one of the world’s staunchest supporters of nuclear nonproliferation and global disarmament “There are no plans for nuclear armament in Europe involving the federal government.” She and others evidently recognize that such plans are a bad idea: a German arsenal would destabilize EU-Russian relations and heighten the risk that other countries would attempt to go nuclear But even though Germany’s current nuclear flirtation may reflect nothing more than a passing reaction to Trump’s presidency it reveals a deeper problem: insecurity in Berlin Germany and the United States must work together Merkel’s government should encourage the EU to coordinate more effectively on defense commitment to the success of the EU and NATO while also pushing for broader negotiations with Russia over the future of European security Over the last decade, Europe has experienced a series of intensifying crises, culminating in Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 Germany led the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine that resulted in a shaky cease-fire its neighbors recall history and grow nervous about German hegemony over Europe Such fears go back at least as far as the creation of the modern German state in 1871 From then until the country’s partition after World War II European leaders confronted “the German question,” a simple but unsolvable dilemma Germany’s size meant that no single European country could ever balance its economic or military power Yet Germany was never powerful enough to rule over Europe alone Part of the problem stemmed from the country’s so-called Mittellage surrounded by potentially hostile coalitions Germany responded to external threats by pursuing what historians have called its Sonderweg or “special path,” a term used to describe the country’s affinity for authoritarian rule and attempts to impose that rule throughout Europe the resulting wars devastated the continent Germany’s partition—after Hitler led the country’s last and most disastrous attempt to rule over Europe—temporarily solved these problems West Germany could not dominate Europe during the Cold War since the struggle between the East and the West subsumed European rivalries the institutional bonds of the EU and NATO prevented the German question from recurring Germany did not have to worry about its Mittellage military retained a limited presence in Europe (including Germany) and the former western Allies successfully transformed Germany into a peaceful and democratic nation making the pursuit of Sonderweg unthinkable security guarantee also allowed Germans to maintain their largely antimilitaristic stance claim the moral high ground over Washington for its overreliance on military power This halcyon era for Germany ended abruptly in 2009 The Great Recession and the subsequent EU debt crisis led many EU countries to demand German leadership But when Germany imposed its solutions on the rest of the continent—for example by insisting that southern European countries follow austere economic policies—it triggered accusations of rising German hegemony the ruling Greek Syriza party claimed that Germany had threatened “immediate financial strangulation” and “annihilation” of Greece if the Greek government rejected the harsh terms of the proposed EU bailout The first major shock to European security came in 2014, when Russia invaded Ukraine. Merkel’s once pragmatic relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin deteriorated rapidly Germany joined France in brokering a shaky truce in eastern Ukraine led EU efforts to impose sanctions on Russia and sent German forces to reassure nervous Baltic NATO allies policy toward Moscow that veered back and forth between efforts to repel Russian influence in eastern Europe and attempts to “reset” the strained relationship left Germany with little choice but to take the lead Against this backdrop, Trump’s election heightened the tensions among competing factors: the need for German leadership, the limits of German power, and Europe’s intolerance of German dominance. During the campaign, Trump displayed indifference to the possible breakup of the EU and praised nationalist political movements such as the Brexit campaign a stance that threatened Germany’s core political identity as the heart of the EU and put pressure on Berlin to defend the union by declaring NATO “obsolete,” Trump undermined the system that has kept Europe safe and Germany restrained for over half a century Trump put Germany in a new Mittellage—this time between the White House and the Kremlin The effect was not confined to Germany; the prospect of a rapprochement between Putin and Trump has left the entire EU in an uncomfortable position he highlighted not just the traditional menaces of jihadism and Russian aggression but also “worrying declarations by the new American administration.” Across the continent leaders feared that Trump would support populist forces seeking to break up the EU or trade away the U.S nuclear guarantee of European security in a grand bargain with Russia Should Europe find itself caught between a hostile Russia and an indifferent United States Berlin would feel pressure to defend Europe militarily rather than just politically But then it would face the problem of how to guarantee European security without reviving fears of German hegemony And if Germany boosted its military power without integrating it into the European project that might well lead to German isolation and the breakup of the EU Nuclear weapons seem to offer Germany a way out of this impasse they would deter existential threats and reduce European dependence on the United States without raising fears of German dominance “Nuclear power projection on the part of Berlin would be accepted as legitimate,” Terhalle wrote because “World War II has no real political weight in today’s relations.” Instead it is the “perception of threat from Russia” that determines policy in central and eastern European countries Russia’s actions in eastern Ukraine may be driving European nations together but the fear of a German resurgence has not gone away entirely the EU’s current unity would quickly fracture Even if the rest of the EU accepted German nuclear weapons Nuclear weapons cannot deter the kind of limited wars Russia has waged so successfully in Crimea and eastern Ukraine nuclear deterrent for Europe with a German- or EU-led one would not be easy The United States struggled for much of the Cold War to convince the Soviet Union that it would defend West Berlin with nuclear weapons especially given the Soviets’ conventional military superiority; Germany would face the same problem as it tried to persuade Russia of its willingness to use nuclear force to defend other EU countries which are under the greatest threat from Russia Both France and the United Kingdom already possess nuclear weapons Their experiences offer mixed lessons of the benefits of a nuclear arsenal Both gained some independence from the United States after fielding their own nuclear forces yet both still relied on the United States to supply conventional military force in Europe and neither country’s nuclear arsenal could match the Soviet Union’s Nor did their nuclear forces do a great deal to improve NATO’s collective defense Only the United Kingdom pledged to use its deterrent to defend other NATO members while France stayed outside NATO’s nuclear structure And it took the United Kingdom a great deal of time and effort to make its commitment credible Germany should remember that simply possessing nuclear weapons does not automatically make allies more secure Regardless of the ultimate effect of a nuclear arsenal Germany would have to surmount major technical It would need to either repurpose its nuclear energy infrastructure for weapons production or sprint to the bomb from new military facilities Either path would take substantial time and effort Germany would struggle to keep any effort to build nuclear weapons in military facilities secret given the vast construction work this would involve Nor could it simply rely on its civil nuclear infrastructure In the wake of the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident in Japan Merkel’s government decided to phase out all of Germany’s nuclear power plants by 2022 This decision makes it difficult for Germany to take technical steps toward the bomb under the guise of a peaceful program such as keeping a few large reactors online past the deadline the time would eventually come when Germany could no longer hide its nuclear ambitions the German government would face intense domestic political opposition and perhaps even civil unrest from a population that determinedly opposes nuclear weapons A March 2016 poll found that 93 percent of Germans favor an international ban on nuclear weapons and that 85 percent would like to see the United States remove all its nuclear weapons from Germany The German population would not back a public nuclear weapons program and any leader who authorized a clandestine effort would face political ruin a German nuclear arsenal would risk bringing down the international nonproliferation regime Germany would have to leave the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty a move that would threaten the continued existence of the treaty itself the treaty’s future already looks uncertain states with nuclear weapons agreed to pursue disarmament and nonnuclear states have increasingly voiced their frustration that the nuclear weapons states have not fulfilled their promise was to keep Germany from building nuclear weapons the nonproliferation regime might collapse entirely because other countries would no longer feel bound by the treaty’s collective bargain could increase the risk of conflict in Europe since Russia would likely work to prevent Germany from acquiring the bomb Moscow could assassinate German nuclear scientists use cyberattacks to sabotage German nuclear industrial infrastructure and perhaps go so far as to strike German nuclear facilities from the air Even covert operations could quickly spiral into outright confrontation Even if Germany managed to acquire nuclear weapons it would then face the daunting task of making sure they could survive a Russian attack Now that Russia has allegedly deployed multiple cruise missiles in violation of the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty under which the Soviet Union and the United States agreed to abandon midrange missiles its ability to destroy a fledgling German nuclear stockpile is only growing Unless Germany managed to conceal and protect its nuclear weapons almost immediately feel pressure to launch a preemptive nuclear attack against Russia in order to avoid losing the arsenal to a Russian first strike These formidable barriers to a German nuclear program have led some to return to the idea of a British-French deterrent But the United Kingdom’s impending departure from the EU leaves Germany with the sole option of reaching out to France This would not be the first time that France and Germany have considered a joint European nuclear deterrent when tensions between France and the United States were running high and the French government began to doubt the credibility of the U.S France suggested to Italy and West Germany that the three countries develop nuclear weapons together French President Charles de Gaulle took office and quickly canceled the secret negotiations and began an indigenous French nuclear program only to raise the prospect of nuclear cooperation again with German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer in 1962 France offered to extend its nuclear umbrella to Germany after reunification in an attempt to decrease U.S in part because the French consistently refused to relinquish control over their arsenal as to do so would have been to give up French autonomy in foreign policy a fact that should give German policymakers pause today Berlin risks giving isolationist elements in the Trump administration exactly what they want: an excuse to disengage Nuclear weapons will not solve Europe’s current woes but Washington should not dismiss German nuclear yearnings as they reflect a growing sense of uncertainty in Berlin This uncertainty stems from an incoherent U.S Washington has faced competing policy options: focus only on defending NATO allies and containing Russia; offer indefinite support to former Soviet states that struggle under Russian dominance; or cooperate with Russia to tackle global security challenges The United States has experimented with all three It has welcomed new countries into NATO despite dire Washington continues to keep the door to the alliance open in the hope that former Soviet states will eventually join but it lacks the resolve to force Moscow to respect the sovereignty of countries such as Georgia and Ukraine administrations have tried to cooperate with the Kremlin on various issues such as counterterrorism and stopping the Iranian nuclear program Three years after the annexation of Crimea and the start of the war in Ukraine Washington has yet to choose a clear policy has led Europe to the brink of a new Cold War Add to this Trump’s erratic stances toward Russia and NATO and it is not surprising that Europeans are asking what Washington’s long-term priorities really are and how the United States intends to achieve them This crisis in transatlantic relations presents many perils but it also offers opportunities for leaders in Berlin and Washington that means taking practical steps to increase Europe’s ability to provide for its own conventional security Germany should not focus on NATO’s blunt spending goal of two percent of GDP but instead seek closer cooperation among national EU militaries; contribute larger and better-equipped forces to the EU Battlegroups; encourage EU countries to avoid duplicating one another’s military R & D and procurement; overcome German national pride and work to develop a common European defense industry; and increase the resilience of EU states to Russian propaganda Washington must recognize the limits of U.S power and focus on strengthening its existing alliances in Europe it should send more high-ranking officials to the Baltics and deploy another light battalion to the region to reinforce U.S security commitments to NATO’s most vulnerable eastern members Washington should also probe whether Moscow’s aims are limited to protecting its core interests in the former Soviet states or whether the Kremlin has broader ambitions officials should put the option of ending NATO’s open-door policy on the table during future negotiations with Russia over the war in eastern Ukraine Should this strategy fail to stop the Kremlin from threatening NATO members the United States could always return to its proven approach of containment Germany must play its well-established role of interlocutor Washington should take up a long-standing German suggestion to embark on a round of negotiations concerning European security among Russia a similar meeting in Helsinki improved communication between the Soviet and U.S militaries and produced a tentative commitment to respect individual rights and freedoms officials should aim for an agreement that increases the security of both NATO members and Russia and helps develop the economies of former Soviet states administrations have shown few signs that they believe in such a vision The Trump administration should take this opportunity to rethink U.S As the sudden desire for nuclear weapons in Germany demonstrates even offhand remarks calling into question European security can have serious consequences So the Trump administration should change its tune and instead buttress the EU and NATO whenever possible It should also offer a broader vision for Russian and European security leadership would allow Germany to delicately balance the EU’s need for direction against its fears of German hegemony Germany and the United States can renew the transatlantic bonds on which Europe is built Subscribe to Foreign Affairs to 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Sign In Michael Kimmage and Sudha David-Wilp Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan Mikhail Zygar Sergey Radchenko and M.E Sudha David-Wilp and Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff Joshua Shifrinson Ivo H. Daalder and James M. Lindsay Tong Zhao Zongyuan Zoe Liu Anne Neuberger Liana Fix and Michael Kimmage * Note that when you provide your email address, the Foreign Affairs Privacy Policy and Terms of Use will apply to your newsletter subscription Published by The Council on Foreign Relations Privacy Policy Terms of Use From the publishers of  Foreign Affairs This website uses cookies to improve your experience You can opt-out of certain cookies using the cookie management page * Note that when you provide your email address, the Foreign Affairs Privacy Policy and Terms of Use will apply to your newsletter subscription A transfer of generating rights should ensure the survival of the Biblis nuclear power plant into the next regime the rules of which should come within months A transfer of generating rights should ensure the survival of the Biblis A nuclear power plant into the next regime RWE has acted to protect it from closure before new limits are decided by transferring around 4.8 TWh of generating rights from a shut-down reactor owned by EOn which EOn had left over after the extra-early 2003 shutdown of Stade Biblis A is a pressurized water reactor with generating capacity of 1167 MWe which said the 4.8 TWh of rights would be enough for it to operate for six months It has already stretched out generation rights by carrying out lengthy upgrades and operating at reduced load RWE was last year denied the chance to transfer generation rights from another shut-down reactor "the company is making sure a 'point of no return' is not reached before the Energy Concept [policy set] and the reversal of the nuclear phase-out scheme set down in the coalition agreement has been presented." Built in the mid 1970s any other country would see the Biblis reactors operate until at least around 2015 with a further 20 years or so a commercial possibility subject to certain regulatory requirements Nuclear utilities are likely to be forced into paying hefty additional taxes for the luxury of operating their reactors as originally intended before phase-out legislation Reports have said some politicians wanted to take as much as 50% of the additional profit although Germany needs its nuclear reactors to meet one quarter of power demand as well as climate change and energy security requirements both RWE and EOn are actively pursuing opportunities abroad notably in the UK where they have the Horizon Nuclear Power joint venture which plans 6000 MWe in new capacity RWE worked towards two new reactors at Belene in Bulgaria and EOn has taken a leading role in the Fennovoima project in Finland EOn's statement said: "In anticipation of a sustainable long-term solution for the continued operation of the nuclear power stations in Germany this sale is an important contribution to preventing the early shutdown of individual power plants and the efficient and climate-friendly use of Stade's existing power quota."   Researched and writtenby World Nuclear News  We use some essential cookies to make this website work We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK remember your settings and improve government services We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services You have accepted additional cookies. 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You can change your cookie settings at any time Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports Seven flasks will be transported from Sellafield via a German port to the Isar Federal storage facility in the first half of 2025 This will be the second of three shipments from the UK to Germany The waste results from the reprocessing and recycling of spent nuclear fuel at the Sellafield site in West Cumbria which had previously been used to produce electricity by utilities in Germany Vitrified residue returns are a key component of the UK’s Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) strategy to repatriate high level waste from the UK fulfil overseas contracts and deliver UK Government policy These returns involve Sellafield Ltd working in partnership with Nuclear Transport Solutions (NTS) to return the waste to German customers The waste will be transported by sea on a specialist vessel to a German port then onwards by rail to its final destination The shipments will be carried out in full compliance with all applicable national and international regulations and subject to issue of all relevant permits and licenses Sellafield Ltd and NTS will provide further information on the shipments in due course Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.