“Search for final nuclear depository inhibits geothermal energy”

Germany’s reset of its search for a final nuclear repository, with a new law approved in March 2017, is inhibiting the development of geothermal energy projects and is thus “blocking the way for the heating transition and climate protection”, writes Erwin Knapek, president of the German Geothermal Association (BVG), in a guest commentary on klimaretter.info. Hundreds of geothermal approval procedures are currently on hold because Germany is now a “blank map” when it comes to finding a final nuclear storage site. In addition, newly founded authorities – not yet fully up and running – had to be included in decisions on geothermal projects, writes Knapek.

Read the guest commentary in German here.

For background, read the CLEW factsheet What to do with the nuclear waste – the storage question.