Contextualized by the 40th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster on April 26th, Environment Minister Carsten Schneider (SPD) has reaffirmed his commitment to the phasing out of nuclear power. He asserted that he would maintain the decision to exit nuclear energy.
Speaking to the press, Schneider dismissed the idea of restarting the three reactors that were shut down three years earlier, calling it a “political ghost debate”. He added that, according to the operators, the move is not one they themselves want, noting that they are actively pushing forward with dismantling the facilities.
Regarding future options, the minister strongly discouraged the construction of new nuclear power plants. He stressed that they are prohibitively expensive, take decades to complete, and do little to solve current energy crises. Schneider noted that the process from planning to commissioning spans roughly 25 years, concluding that nuclear power merely presents an illusion, rather than a sustainable solution. Instead, he maintained that expanding renewables is more economical, faster, and safer.
Schneider also rejected the calls from the CSU for investments in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). He dismissed this approach as one currently limited to theory, pointing out the lack of units in actual operation, the absence of serialized production, and the lack of reliable economic models. Furthermore, he cited persistent risks, including security threats or potential attacks. He concluded that SMRs are, in effect, “old wine in new bottles” and ultimately create more problems than large-scale plants.
Addressing previous statements by Economic Minister Katherina Reiche (CDU), who claimed that renewables could only meet a fifth of the energy demand, Schneider corrected the calculation. He explained that her focus on primary energy demand is misleading, as this figure includes massive conversion losses resulting from relying on inefficient sources like coal and oil rather than significantly more efficient electric solutions.
He reassured the public that electricity generation is much closer to its goal. Currently, the renewables sector accounts for a robust 55 percent of electricity generation, with plans to reach approximately 80 percent by 2030. He emphasized that this increased share will form the foundation for further electrification in the transport and heating sectors, arguing that renewables are stronger than his colleague suggested.