NUCLEAR APPLICATION A
cross Europe, nations are rethinking their nuclear strategies. In May 2025, Belgium officially repealed its 2003
law that mandated a gradual nuclear phaseout, a symbolic yet concrete example of the policy reversals happening across the EU. Countries including France, Sweden and the Netherlands are expanding nuclear programmes. Even the UK – long seen as a cautiously supportive outlier – has reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear as a cornerstone of its future energy strategy. “It’s actually very exciting overall. So, what
we’re seeing is a growing interest from a large number of EU countries towards nuclear,” says Emmanuel Brutin, director general at nucleareurope, which represents the nuclear sector to European institutions. “When you look at the landscape today, we have about 12 EU member states that operate nuclear facilities. This amounts just to 100GW of nuclear electricity production capacity across the EU, which is about 24% of the EU’s electricity.” “Life is a bit easier now,” adds Nathan
Paterson, senior programme leader for supply chain activities at the World Nuclear Association, which is uniquely placed to facilitate growth across the sector by bringing together various players that represent the
industry to discuss common challenges, collaborate and develop best practices. “There were a lot more anti-nuclear barriers for progressing certain policies for industrial development across multiple countries in Europe [three years ago]. There’s a lot more togetherness now.”
Just a few years ago, Paterson explains,
there were specific policies that were trying to shift funding towards decommissioning nuclear plants and waste management, but recently there has been a lot more focus on building new plants as concerns for energy security rise alongside demand for eco- friendly energy. This requires a large amount of investment, however, as according to the European Commission, nuclear energy will require investment of €241bn until 2050 for extensions of existing reactors and new builds. “New nuclear facilities have a significant
upfront cost, so these are very big investments,” explains Brutin. “However, extending the lifetime of existing nuclear power plants is always the best investment you can do to maintain energy costs at a reasonable level.” Brutin points to Belgium’s recent shift
towards nuclear energy; nuclear power makes up a large share of the country’s electricity mix. While phasing out nuclear power would pose a
sustainability issue, as the energy would likely be replaced by electricity produced out of gas, he explains, it would also affect affordability.
A shifting landscape It’s clear that Europe’s energy strategy is undergoing a profound shift. After years of regulatory and political hesitation, the war in Ukraine and rising energy prices have refocused attention on energy independence and resilience. Nuclear energy – responsible for around 40% of the EU’s carbon-free electricity – has, therefore, re-emerged as a vital player in the bloc’s future energy mix. Belgium’s recent U-turn joins similar moves
seen across Europe, in countries like France, who have made plans to build six new EPR2 reactors, and Sweden, where lawmakers have lifted restrictions on nuclear expansion. “What we also see is strong interest in nuclear energy in countries that do not have nuclear power today. For instance, Poland is currently in the process of launching their first nuclear reactor and there are similar discussions happening in Italy,” says Brutin. “It is a very exciting time for the sector. I think there’s a big realisation from policymakers across the EU and even beyond that, actually, nuclear is needed if we’re serious about achieving our net-zero ambition.”
Nuclear energy discussions in Europe tend to revive concerns around safety following major accidents like Fukushima.
www.hoistmagazine.com | August 2025 | 15
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