The early closure of nuclear power plants in several European countries, far from being an environmental victory, has become a lesson in basic economics. When energy demand skyrocketed due to the gas crisis, the electricity that those stable and cheap plants used to produce had to be replaced by natural gas combined cycles. The result was a direct increase in the price of electricity for homes and industries.
The technical paradox of eliminating base generation ⚡
Nuclear plants operate as base load generation, running at 90% of their capacity continuously. By dismantling them, a predictable source with marginal fuel costs was removed from the mix. The grid lost frequency and voltage stability, forcing operators to contract more expensive backup services, such as gas turbines that start up in minutes. This drove up the system's marginal price, making every kWh sold more expensive, even that from renewables.
The perfect plan: paying more to turn off the lights at home 💡
The move was flawless: shutting down plants that barely emitted CO2 only to later have to import Russian or American gas at a premium price. Now, every time you look at your electricity meter, remember that you are paying extra for the environmental conscience of some politicians. At least, when the supply cut comes due to lack of backup, you can read this article by candlelight, which is cheaper than the kWh you are paying now.