Brussels, 02/03/2015 (Agence Europe) - In the absence of a subsequent response to the publication of the Energy Union package introduced by the Commission on Wednesday 25 February, the association representing nuclear power in Europe, Foratom, expressed its position that very same day. This is in line with the view expressed by the ministers for energy from eight member states: France, Lithuania, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom, Slovakia and Slovenia, in a letter sent to the European Commission before this publication. It called for the significant role played by the nuclear industry in Europe to be recognised in the Energy Union.
In the letter as reported by the nuclear news agency, NucNet, the Ministers recall nuclear power's credentials in Europe in terms of security of supply, climate change mitigation and competitiveness and prompt the Commission to include initiatives in order to develop a supportive EU framework for safe and sustainable new nuclear. These initiatives should include a commitment to examining financing mechanisms for large infrastructure projects to be applied to nuclear projects, alongside other large-scale low-carbon energy projects. In addition, the Ministers recommend that the Commission develop clear State aid rules that would apply to nuclear taking into account Commission State aid decisions on nuclear taken previously. A new set of state aid guidelines is expected to be adopted in 2019. Foratom points out that in October 2014, in its decision regarding the Hinkley Point C deal, the Commission concluded that nuclear power suffers from a “market failure” more than other energy sources due to its longer time horizon and greater investment size. The Ministers also suggest bringing forward as soon as possible the implementation of the EU Emission Trading Scheme (ETS) reform and request the Commission to set out a comprehensive package of research & innovation initiatives to help strengthen the skills, technology and nuclear safety and decommissioning capabilities within Europe.
Westinghouse says utilise domestic potential. On 25 February, Westinghouse, the world leader in nuclear technology, said that Energy Union could help inject a renewed sense of pride in Europe's power by drawing on its domestic strengths. It explained that this would help the EU move forward in a more energy efficient and profitable way. The US company believes that the EU has four reasons to be optimistic about its energy future: strong domestic production of nuclear electricity (29%) and carbon free electricity (53%);- the vast transport network that exists but which needs modernising; - the presence of major players in the energy market that are able to compete on the global markets; - a huge market to be exploited by energy producers and services that are prepared to innovate. (Emmanuel Hagry)