Extending the life of existing nuclear power plants

Extending the life of the nuclear power plants currently operated in Germany is being discussed in the light of a more likely change in government for a Christian Democrat/Liberal coalition. The reason cited most frequently is the impossibility to meet the objectives of climate protection without raising further the price of electricity if the life of nuclear power plants cannot be extended. The question to be looked into is that of the legal pre-requisites to be established in Germany in order for the existing nuclear power plants to be operated for longer periods of time. Under the amendment to the Atomic Energy Act which entered into force on April 27, 2002, the right of a nuclear power plant to continue power operation ceases when the electricity output allotted to that plant under the new Atomic Energy Act has been reached. Legislation, for instance, could increases the aggregate output of electricity of all plants and distribute it among the existing plants practically on the basis of the same formula, thus allowing these plants to continue operation. Legislation could also follow the US licensing model which incorporates a general time limit with the option to have this operating permit extended by X years. A third possibility open to legislation would be the return to the legal status before the 2002 Atomic Energy Act.