Germany has demolished its oldest nuclear power plant, Grafenrheinfeld, after nearly four decades of service. The plant was operational from 1982 to 2015 and provided around 11% of Bavaria’s energy during that time. As part of the government’s policy to transition away from nuclear power, the plant was closed in 2015.
The demolition process began with the destruction of the plant’s two iconic cooling towers, which stood at 143 meters tall. The demolition was originally planned for 17:30 local time but was delayed by about an hour and a half due to a protest by a pro-nuclear activist who scaled one of the pylons and chained themselves to it.
Once the situation was resolved, the demolition process began, taking around 30 seconds to complete. It created approximately 55,000 tonnes of concrete rubble, which will be used to fill the two collecting basins below the towers.
The closure of Grafenrheinfeld is part of Germany’s broader plan to transition away from nuclear power and towards renewable energy sources. The country aims to generate around 80% of its electricity from sustainable sources by 2050. However, there are concerns about the sustainability of this goal.
Grafenrheinfeld’s mayor, Christian Keller, described the demolition as a significant event for the town, saying that the two towers have been an important landmark and symbol for them. The plant’s closure marks the end of an era in Germany’s energy landscape.
Source: https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/08/17/germanys-grafenrheinfeld-nuclear-power-plant-demolished-after-short-delay