Markus Krebber, the chief executive of RWE, says that investing in small modular reactors (SMRs) is not currently economically defensible and he tempers expectations for a swift solution to the electricity market’s problems.
“We are a technology‑open company and observe all technologies, including SMRs” he told the news portal Politico. “Whether and when this technology will mature commercially, nobody can say today. At present, an investment in SMRs is not conceivable for a private company”.
Krebber added that the technology is still not market‑ready. According to the current state of affairs, there is no single supplier worldwide that can guarantee a construction period or fixed costs. “We are not willing to take on such an investment risk as a private enterprise” he noted.
He dismissed unrealistic hopes, stating, “SMRs are definitely not the overnight cure-all for all our problems”.
