When it is dark and the wind goes on strike, Germany is forced to import electricity, even from Italy. In December, Italy exported over 4000 MWh to Germany, which, in the same period, imported a total of 13,600 MWh. A similar situation occurred on Jan. 20. Thanks to its energy transition, the “Energiewende,” Germany has become a net importer of electricity, as we know, for a total of 25 TWh in 2024, amounting to some 5% of consumption. The irony is that half of it is from nuclear energy (mostly in France) which Germany totally shut down at home.
The other irony is Italy coming to help. Italy, the first European country to ban nuclear energy in 1986, is importing 54.6 TWh yearly, mostly nuclear-produced French electricity. Greetings from Rube Goldberg.