Germany's Nuclear Debate Persists Despite Isar 2 Dismantling Progress
Three years after Germany completed its nuclear phase-out, the debate over atomic energy remains intense despite ongoing dismantling of the Isar 2 plant. Operator PreussenElektra has firmly rejected proposals by CDU leader Jens Spahn to restart decommissioned reactors, stating reactivation is technically impossible. Meanwhile, politicians like Markus Söder and Economics Minister Katherina Reiche advocate for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). However, legal barriers under the Federal Atomic Energy Act currently ban new commercial plants and fuel reprocessing, requiring legislative changes that critics label dangerous. Environmentalists argue SMRs are expensive and irrelevant to current energy crises. Additionally, the unresolved issue of radioactive waste storage poses a significant hurdle, with the search for a final repository delayed until potentially 2074. At Isar 2, dismantling work resumed in March 2026 following a minor incident in late 2025 where falling metal damaged a pool lining. Major components like steam generators and the reactor pressure vessel are scheduled for removal between 2026 and 2033, with full site clearance expected by 2040. The article highlights the disconnect between political aspirations for nuclear revival and the technical, legal, and logistical realities facing Germany.
Wire timeline
Germany's Nuclear Debate Persists Despite Isar 2 Dismantling Progress
Three years after Germany completed its nuclear phase-out, the debate over atomic energy remains intense despite ongoing dismantling of the Isar 2 plant. Operator PreussenElektra has firmly rejected proposals by CDU leader Jens Spahn to restart decommissioned reactors, stating reactivation is technically impossible. Meanwhile, politicians like Markus Söder and Economics Minister Katherina Reiche advocate for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). However, legal barriers under the Federal Atomic Energy Act currently ban new commercial plants and fuel reprocessing, requiring legislative changes that critics label dangerous. Environmentalists argue SMRs are expensive and irrelevant to current energy crises. Additionally, the unresolved issue of radioactive waste storage poses a significant hurdle, with the search for a final repository delayed until potentially 2074. At Isar 2, dismantling work resumed in March 2026 following a minor incident in late 2025 where falling metal damaged a pool lining. Major components like steam generators and the reactor pressure vessel are scheduled for removal between 2026 and 2033, with full site clearance expected by 2040. The article highlights the disconnect between political aspirations for nuclear revival and the technical, legal, and logistical realities facing Germany.
DIE ZEIT | Nachrichten, News, Hintergründe und Debatten