Germany’s recent shift in stance on nuclear energy marks a major turning point in European energy policy. Long a vocal opponent of nuclear power, Berlin had pursued a renewables-only strategy following the Fukushima disaster, shutting down all reactors by 2023. However, rising energy insecurity, industrial pressure, and ambitious EU climate goals have prompted a reversal. While Germany is not yet reviving its domestic nuclear sector, it has stopped blocking EU-wide initiatives supporting nuclear energy. This change opens the door for broader European cooperation on nuclear deployment, particularly as countries like France, Poland, and Finland expand investments in nuclear and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Nuclear can provide a stable, carbon-free baseload to complement intermittent renewables, improving grid reliability. Germany’s support could also accelerate transmission upgrades, cross-border integration, and market reforms, including regulatory harmonization and new financing models like contracts-for-difference. 

Despite this progress, challenges remain. Public opposition, high capital costs, long project timelines, and a shortage of nuclear talent threaten the pace of expansion. Yet, Germany’s pivot allows Europe to embrace a hybrid energy future combining renewables, nuclear, hydrogen, and storage—to optimize for cost, reliability, and decarbonization. As Europe’s largest economy, Germany’s endorsement of nuclear at the EU level is likely to reshape the continent’s energy strategy, enabling a more resilient and integrated grid that is better suited to meet 21st-century energy demands and climate commitments.
Germany’s nuclear u-turn and its continental ripple effects

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