European nuclear industry leaders have published a manifesto outlining their priorities for the new European Commission (EC). The manifesto calls on the European Union (EU) to recognise nuclear as a solution to climate change, access to affordable energy and security of supply.
Nucleareurope Director General Yves Desbazeille said it essential for the next Commission to treat nuclear on an equal footing with other fossil free technologies. “Our expectation is that future policy proposals will focus on goals – decarbonisation, competitiveness, energy sovereignty – rather than on specific technologies.”
The manifesto notes that numerous initiatives have emerged recently to underscore the pivotal role of nuclear in the EU’s decarbonisation efforts such as the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA). This acknowledges the potential of nuclear power to drive the EU towards a carbon-neutral future and establishes a legislative framework to promote the development and deployment of net-zero technologies.
The Nuclear Alliance of the EU member states has recognised that nuclear could provide up to 150 GW of electricity capacity by 2050 in the EU compared with approximately 100 GW today. This aligns with the Net Zero Nuclear initiative, launched in November 2023 during COP28, that aims to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050.
Support for the sector was echoed by the EC during the Nuclear Energy Summit in March 2024, and with the launch of the European Industrial Alliance for Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as well as the European Parliament’s adoption of an Own Initiative Report on SMRs.
The Manifesto says: “We have to build on this acknowledgement.” It calls on policymakers to ensure consistent and coherent long-term policies to facilitate the lifetime extension of the existing fleet and the deployment of new nuclear capacities, including large scale reactors, SMR and innovative technologies such as the Advanced Modular Reactors (AMR) and the development of the nuclear fuel supply chain.
It specifies a number of actions:
- Provide a level-playing field for all net-zero technologies.
- Allow and facilitate access to private and public financing which will ensure that all viable solutions receive the necessary support to contribute to the energy transition.
- Ensure that European financial institutions (namely the European Investment Bank, the lending criteria of which includes nuclear) finance nuclear projects for long-term operation of the existing fleet, new build (large scale, SMR and AMR) and fuel cycle facilities.
- Support the continued inclusion of nuclear energy in the EU Taxonomy for sustainable activities and include the associated fuel cycle activities in the framework.
- Ensure that taxation policies do not discriminate against low-carbon technologies that contribute to the energy transition.
- Broaden access to other EU funds beyond Euratom to facilitate scaling-up and financing the mass deployment of nuclear technologies, including industrial scale-up and supply chains which also comprises the fuel cycle necessary for achieving the decarbonisation targets.
- Support nuclear research in the EU: the Euratom Research and Training programme budget should double to tackle the numerous challenges. Synergies with other EU R&D programmes should be increased. Likewise, a more balanced approach between fusion and fission project financing should be ensured.
- Invest in skills, workforce and human resources through the Euratom Research and Training programme which is critical for both maintaining existing nuclear installations and developing new nuclear projects. A skilled workforce and adequate competences are needed to drive the energy transition.
The Manifesto says: “The challenges are significant but not impossible to overcome if the European Institutions, EU Member States’ Governments and the whole nuclear community collaborate closely to meet them…. It is time to turn words into actions. Together we can make a difference.”
