17 Jan (NucNet): Gross electricity production from Germany�s nuclear power plants increased by nearly 6 per cent in 2008, according to latest industry figures.

Germany�s 17 operational reactor units generated a combined total of 148.8 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity compared to 140.5 TWh of electricity in 2007.

The 1,400-megawatt pressurised water reactor (PWR) Isar-2 was the best individually performing plant in terms of production in 2008 generating 12.1 TWh of electricity.

The DAtF said yesterday that the overall increase in nuclear generation was due to a large extent to the combined efforts of the country�s Biblis-A and Biblis-B PWRs in the state of Hessen, which produced 9 TWh and 11 TWh of electricity respectively. The result was the best operating performance in the plants� history, DAfF said.

Following maintenance outages, Biblis-B was returned to the grid in December 2007 followed by Biblis-A in February 2008. Biblis-B reached another milestone in December 2008 when it exceeded 250 TWh of electricity production since it was first connected to the grid in April 1976.

DAtF said that data from its energy working group showed that the nuclear share of primary energy consumption in Germany increased slightly to 11.5 percent in 2008 compared to 11.1 percent in 2007.

Based on the overall total of primary energy consumption of 480 million tones of coal equivalent (Mtce), electricity generated from nuclear power plants increased by 5.7 percent to 55.3 Mtce. �The figures show once again the outstanding contribution of CO2-free electricity production from nuclear power to Germany�s security of energy supply and climate protection,� DAtF said.

Legislation which came into force in Germany in 2002 limits operating lifetimes of German reactor units to about 32 years. The legislation was aimed at ensuring a gradual phase-out of the use of nuclear power in Germany.

A survey published in August 2008 indicated that more than half of the German population is in favour of extending operating times of the country�s existing nuclear power plants beyond 2021 � an increase in support since a similar survey five months� earlier.

In November 2008, the head of Germany-based utility group E.ON, Wulf Bernotat, called for a renewed public debate about the continued operation of the country�s nuclear power plants.

� by John Shepherd

>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)

More Than Half German Population Supports Extended Operation Of N-Plants (News in Brief No. 99, 1 September 2008)

German Power Group Chief Urges Renewed National Nuclear Debate (News No. 94, 27 November 2008)

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