E.ON said in a statement that the total amount of claims could not be quantified until it had analysed the court's decision more closely. It is prepared to enter into talks with the government, it said.

"Such talks may take some time," it said.

It added that it had invested several hundred million euros to extend the life spans of its nuclear plants after a relevant government decision in the year 2010, shortly before the Fukushima disaster triggered a policy about-turn.

(Reporting by Vera Eckert; Editing by Maria Sheahan)