Federal Minister of Research Dorothee Bär (CSU) issued a preliminary rejection regarding mini-nuclear power plants. Speaking to the “Rheinische Post”, Bär stressed that discussions about future electricity supply must be free of restrictions or taboos. She stated that the crucial requirement is that all potential options must undergo thorough factual examination and technological advancement. Despite this, she clarified that the BMFTR currently does not support research into these supposed mini-nuclear technologies.
Regarding the future energy mix, Bär feels it is realistic to expect the construction of the first fusion reactor in Germany sometime within the next decade. She expressed confidence that “by the 2030s, we can achieve bringing solar energy on a large scale to Earth” adding that the world is standing at the threshold of a technological breakthrough that many people would witness firsthand.
Finally, in the context of the high-tech agenda, the minister argued for closer collaboration between the scientific community and the economy. She warned that science cannot remain an academic pursuit; instead, it must be measured by its potential for market readiness. She emphasized the pressing need for “more transfer, more application, and more economic impact”.
