EU Approves German Gas Plant Subsidies: Interview with Christian Semperes on Climate and Energy Policy

The European Commission approved a German scheme worth over €35 billion to fund new gas-fired power plants starting in 2031. In an interview, former EDF engineer Christian Semperes calls this an 'eco-logical disaster,' arguing that Germany's nuclear phase-out forced a reliance on gas, which emits far more CO2 than nuclear. He contrasts this with France's struggle to get state aid approval for six EPR2 reactors, pointing to the ARENH mechanism as a costly burden on EDF. Semperes also critiques the 100% renewables vision, citing RTE's estimate of €700 billion extra investment by 2060 compared to a mix with nuclear. He highlights the closure of Fessenheim and the opening of the Landivisiau gas plant as examples of French policy mirroring Germany's mistakes. The interview touches on energy sovereignty, grid stability, and the need for dispatchable low-carbon generation beyond intermittent renewables.