The Fukushima effect: electricity prices in Germany fall by 50 per cent

When Germany began its nuclear power phase-out in 2011, critics began to paint the direst picture of the future. They predicted that the decommissioning of eight atomic power stations would result in a colossal shortfall in the supply of electricity and that this would lead to blackouts and massive hikes in the cost of power. But since then, Germany has experienced neither power shortfalls nor blackouts. The doom and gloom forecast has not come to pass; on the contrary a new record electricity export surplus to the tune of 34 billion kWh was registered in 2013. The downward trend in electricity prices in Germany is continuing unabated. While electricity still cost more than 6 euro cents/kWh on the EEX shortly after the Fukushima reactor disaster, bulk buyers and businesses are currently able to cover their needs for just 3.2 euro cents/kWh (2017 futures price). This is the lowest price for electricity for more than 10 years.

See the full press release (german) Seit Fukushima: Deutsche Strompreise sinken um 50 Prozent
Trends in EEX futures prices (to 2020) for electricity in Germany (german)

Released on: 2014-06-13