Söder demands construction of mini-nuclear power plants - Germany’s Söder pushes nuclear revival with advanced reactor plans
CSU leader Markus Söder is pushing for a significant shift in Germany's energy policy. He's calling for the construction of new nuclear power plants and opposes state subsidies for energy production, including those for gas-fired power plants and renewables. Söder's proposals echo Chancellor Friedrich Merz's stance on prioritising competitiveness.
Söder has long been against Germany's nuclear phase-out and now proposes building smaller, advanced reactors similar to those in use in Canada. He believes these would not require the same subsidies as traditional plants, helping to keep energy affordable. Söder also calls for reversing the taboo on domestic gas drilling and reassessing the viability of domestic rare earth mining to boost the economy.
In support of this shift, Germany already has companies like Siemens Energy involved in supplying turbines and generators for small modular reactor (SMR) programmes. Research institutes and suppliers are also active in European SMR projects, such as around the Temelin nuclear power plant or in cooperation with companies like Rolls-Royce, EDF, and Synthos. Furthermore, the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) has created extensive assessments of SMR concepts.
Söder's proposals, if implemented, could significantly alter Germany's energy landscape. They aim to make energy more affordable and boost the economy through domestic resource utilisation. The existing involvement of German companies in SMR programmes and the assessments by BASE suggest a potential pathway for this shift.
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