As Europe doubles down on its efforts to achieve its climate goals, it is essential for nuclear energy, as a clean and reliable source of power, to play a central role in the European Union's energy strategy.
Renewable energies are a valuable part of the energy mix, and now account for almost half of Europe’s electricity production. But given the intermittency of their power output, they must be supplemented by a stable baseload capacity to ensure that power is available when it is needed and to avoid placing excessive strain on the electricity grid. In this context, nuclear stands out for its ability to provide decarbonised, low-cost energy available at any time.
This reliability is even more crucial to support a sustainable and resilient power grid, especially as Europe’s electricity demand is projected to quadruple by 2050 with rising electrification across sectors, from heating to cars.
There is now political momentum in the EU to develop more nuclear power. Last year, a dozen member states formed the European Nuclear Alliance to promote cross-border co-operation in the sector, and this year the Nuclear Energy Focus Group – which I chair – relaunched in the European Parliament. In August, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that Europe needs “more nuclear,” alongside renewables and improvements in energy efficiency.
A comprehensive Nuclear Action Plan (PINC), as provided for in Article 40 of the Euratom Treaty, would allow nuclear energy to be fully integrated into European climate objectives by establishing a common, coherent framework compatible with the Green Deal.
Nuclear projects and infrastructure must have access to the same public funding as renewable energy sources. Such a measure would ensure a good balance of investments and provide European industry with the clarity it needs to strengthen its capacities.
Support for such a strategy is widely shared within the union. A dozen member states, a hundred parliamentarians, and the entire nuclear sector are now calling for nuclear energy to be given equal consideration alongside renewables.
The Industrial Alliance for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) demonstrates this shared interest well. But it is concerning that, under its initial call for projects, four of the nine projects selected involve extra-European partnerships. The alliance should support European industry, and the presence of foreign actors presents strategic vulnerability.
In the United States and China, such alliances are used to protect domestic industry. It is time for Europe to strengthen its priorities and provide long-term support to its own companies in sectors where it still has a competitive advantage – not just SMRs but the whole nuclear sector.
Integrating nuclear energy into EU climate policies does not mean abandoning renewables but rather creating an essential alliance to ensure a low-carbon, stable and affordable energy mix. By taking into account the expectations of both public and industrial stakeholders, the Commission can build a robust energy framework that addresses Europe’s carbon neutrality needs by 2050, as well as the competitiveness imperative highlighted in the Draghi report.
This op-ed is part of a pro/con series. Read the other side here.