8. Shutdown

There are competing protests on either side of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany. It’s 2023, on the eve of the final shutdown of the country's last three remaining nuclear power plants.

On one side, anti-nuclear campaigners and politicians celebrate their victory. This is a new, clean, dawn for the German power grid, they say.

On the other side of the gate, a small but vocal group of pro-nuclear greens condemn what they believe is a grave mistake. And as other countries pledge to increase their nuclear energy capacities, this group is playing the long game. They believe they may have lost the battle here in Germany, but they will win the war.

How did the green-on-green struggle over the German energy system go nuclear?

Presenter: Justin Rowlatt

Producer: Rachel Naylor

Series Producer: Ellie House

Editor: Matt Willis

Sound Design and Mix: James Beard

Production Coordinators: Maria Ogundele, Brenda Brown, Sabine Schereck

Commissioning Editor: Dan Clarke

Archive:

Saubere Energien kämpfen gegen schmutzige, Nuklearia, 13/5/2023

Footage of Fridays For Future protest in Berlin, @digitalwerber and Nuklearia, 24/9/2021