On Tuesday 28 November, with 40 votes in favour, 10 against and 5 abstentions, MEPs on the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) adopted the non-binding draft report by Franc Bogovič (EPP, Slovenian), which aims to support the deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the EU (see EUROPE 13245/6).
This compromise amendment, supported by MEPs from the EPP, S&D, Renew Europe, ECR and ID groups, annulled the amendments to the text that had previously been put forward.
The text, as it stands, emphasises the potential of SMRs to “provide the EU with a reliable, affordable and on-demand supply of electricity, with the potential capacity to provide a firm baseload of clean electricity, heat and steam for industry and households, including possibly retrofitting coal fired power stations”.
The report therefore emphasises the need for further research and development in the field of SMRs to “guarantee the safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness of these technologies”.
It also highlights the role that SMRs could play in the evolution of the next generation of reactor technology, the production of renewable hydrogen, district heating and cooling where other clean energy sources are not available, and the sustainable desalination of water.
The report also calls on the European Commission and the Member States to assess the sources of funding available for the deployment of SMRs, in particular the possibility for Member States to use any eligible funds or the Just Transition Fund to finance research and development. It also calls for the establishment of a European structure specifically dedicated to SMRs.
The European Commission has already announced its intention to set up a dedicated Industrial Alliance in the coming months (see EUROPE 13287/12).
To see the compromise: https://aeur.eu/f/9u4
To see the previous amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/9u5 (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)