US companies evaluate reboot of Germany’s nuclear plants

(MENAFN)
American companies are evaluating the potential and cost of restarting Germany’s decommissioned nuclear power plants, Bild reported Friday. The move comes as Germany faces rising energy prices and continued economic downturn.

The country shut down its final three nuclear reactors in April 2023, following a parliamentary decision made after the Fukushima disaster to phase out nuclear energy. However, growing economic pressures and energy challenges have reignited debate over reversing that policy.

This week, nuclear proponents and political figures gathered in Berlin to examine the prospects of bringing Germany’s reactors back online. Among the attendees was US nuclear engineer Mark Nelson, founder of Radiant Energy Group. He argued that restarting the reactors would be cost-effective, pointing out that “there’s no cheaper way to generate electricity anywhere in the world than with your fully paid-off nuclear plants.”

Backed by a group of investors, Nelson suggested that nine reactors could be reactivated. He criticized claims that nuclear energy is too expensive, calling them politically driven or based on faulty assumptions.

Germany’s push toward renewable energy has yet to fully meet demand—renewables accounted for only 47% of electricity usage in Q1 2025. The country has also struggled since cutting off cheap Russian gas, and it significantly increased electricity imports after shutting its last nuclear plants.

As the EU works to eliminate its dependence on Russian energy, Berlin plans to invest €20 billion in gas-fired power stations to ensure grid stability and support coal reduction efforts. Despite Moscow expressing willingness to resume gas exports, Chancellor Friedrich Merz is reportedly against reestablishing energy ties with Russia.
Germany’s ongoing energy issues have deepened its economic woes, with 2025 marking the third year of recession. Around 200,000 businesses closed in 2024—the highest since 2011—and April 2025 saw insolvency levels surpass those during the 2008 financial crisis.

Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency (IEA), predicted a strong return of nuclear power and said that Germany would need a mix of storable renewables and nuclear energy to stabilize its future energy needs. Merz has shown interest in investing in small modular reactors and nuclear fusion as part of a broader energy strategy.

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