Energy Transition & Climate Change

    Reiche Calls for a New Era of Energy Security and Technological Openness

    Feb 14, 2026 - Munich

    A woman speaks at a podium during a BMW Foundation event, standing in front of a turquoise backdrop.
    Marc Beckmann

    The BMW Foundation’s Energy Security Hub at the Munich Security Conference 2026 opened with a keynote by Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Katharina Reiche (CDU). In her address, she argued for technological openness and greater diversification in Germany’s energy strategy, including renewed consideration of nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactors.

    “Energy security is no longer treated as a technical issue. It is moved into the very center of the Munich Security Conference," Reiche said in front of the packed BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt Pavilion, just steps away from the main conference at Hotel Bayerischer Hof. "Energy security is no longer treated as an appendix of geopolitics. It has become one of its foundations.”Reiche placed energy at the core of Europe’s economic and geopolitical stability. “For decades, we relied on what we called the rule-based order. Great power rivalry defines global politics. Trade, finance, energy, data, and supply chains have become geopolitical weapons.” She highlighted the economic risks associated with energy instability, warning that "a major blackout would cost our economy between half a billion up to 1,3 billion Euros per hour. After one day, losses could exceed 12 billion Euros.”“Energy security therefore requires one central principle: Avoid structural dependencies and build resilience directly into our systems.” According to Reiche, technological diversification is essential to reducing vulnerability and maintaining strategic flexibility. “Technological diversification limits external dependencies, it prevents energy from being weaponized against our society and keeps our options open.”

    “It’s not the time to exclude technologies. It’s time to look what’s going on."

    Katharina Reiche

    Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy

    SMRs as a possible contributor to resilience

    She emphasized that Germany should not neglect technologies prematurely. “It’s not the time to exclude technologies. It’s time to look what’s going on. Which new technologies can help to build on our resilience?” Reiche made clear that this approach includes developments in nuclear innovation. “That’s why we look not only into renewable energies and storage capacities and digitization of grid, we also look into SMRs. SMRs are a possible contributor to resilience, decentralized and low-carbon energy system.”SMRs, or Small Modular Reactors, are smaller, factory-built nuclear power plants designed to provide low-carbon electricity and potentially shorten construction times compared to conventional nuclear plants.At the same time, the minister underscored Germany’s achievements in renewable energy. “What we did well is we invested in renewable energy, we gained technology breakthroughs. It was pioneer work to invest in grids, solar, wind and we built an industry around this.” However, she argued that rising energy demand, particularly from digital infrastructure, requires additional reliable sources of constant power. “There won’t be less energy needed, we see an increase worldwide, but also in Europe." With regards to data centers, she stressed that Germany needs to have the capacity to power its own cloud infrastructure and feed data centers with constant energy flows. "And if that should not be gas or even coal, you have to look for something different. And that is also a path where I see that nuclear jumping in.”
    Panelists seated on stage in a modern conference room with an audience watching, large windows in the background.
    After delivering her the keynote, Reiche joined at panel entitled: Europe’s Energy Mix: Strength Through Diversified Energy Strategies
    Marc Beckmann
    A man in a suit with a headset gestures while speaking in front of a blue globe background, seated and engaged in conversation.
    The panel featured Dan Jorgensen, European Commissioner for Energy and Housing...
    Marc Beckmann
    Man in a suit speaking during an interview, sitting on a gray chair. Blurred background with people and large windows.
    ...and Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
    A camera crew films a panel discussion with three speakers on stage, in a brightly lit room with a large audience.
    It examined whether differing energy strategies can be integrated —turning national diversity into collective strength or revealing conflicting visions for Europe’s energy future.
    Marc Beckmann

    Energy Transition Future Monitor 2026

    A representative survey, commissioned by the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and conducted by the Allensbach Institute, shows that public acceptance of Germany’s energy transition is weakening. While a majority of citizens continues to see the energy transition as fundamentally necessary, confidence in its current implementation is eroding, and concerns about costs, energy security, and economic competitiveness are growing. Through the monitor, the BMW Foundation aims to contribute empirical evidence to the public debate and to support decision-makers in developing energy policies that are not only ambitious but also broadly accepted. German version

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    No reversing renewable transition

    Reiche stressed that technological openness does not mean reversing the renewable transition. “It is our task to talk to society and convince it that opening ourselves again to a technology that was excluded does not mean stepping back from renewables, which we won’t, but having an addition that makes us more resilient.”She concluded with a broader strategic appeal: “We must strengthen our resilience. We must protect our sovereignty. We must secure our competitiveness. That is the German pivot we have to take now.” Her remarks come amid renewed debate in Germany about a potential reconsideration of nuclear energy and concerns from critics that such discussions could undermine investor certainty and the achievements of the green transition. Reiche framed technological openness not as a rollback, but as a strategy to reinforce resilience, energy security, stable electricity supply, and long-term competitiveness.

    The Energy Security HubAs an official partner of the Munich Security Conference, the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt convenes leaders from policy, business, science, and civil society to address this challenge head-on.  Over three days, the Energy Security Hub 2026 in the heart of Munich provides a dedicated forum for strategic exchange on how Europe can mobilize technology, strengthen competitiveness, and forge global alliances to build a resilient energy and industrial future. Learn more here.

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