The European Commissioner for Energy, Dan Jørgensen, held talks with representatives of the nuclear industry on Monday 7 April, following the European Commission’s announcement, in its action plan for affordable energy prices, of an update to the Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC) (see EUROPE 13588/3).
The aim of this programme is to provide an overview of the costs and investment requirements covering the entire lifecycle of nuclear installations in the EU. However, industry representatives expect the programme to be accompanied by concrete action on funding, State aid and skills.
While Commissioner Jørgensen once again emphasised the role of renewable energies in achieving a “cheaper, cleaner and more connected” Energy Union, he acknowledged that nuclear energy “will also play an important role in the electrification and decarbonisation of the EU’s energy system”.
“The aim of today’s dialogue is to gain a better understanding of the sector’s investment needs and challenges, as well as the potential tools that will enable the EU nuclear industry to continue to contribute to the transition to clean energy”, he explained.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) were also mentioned in the action plan, and were discussed during this dialogue. The Industrial Alliance on SMRs was the focus of a targeted presentation.
The European Commission is aiming for the widespread use of small modular reactors by the early 2030s. While the industry welcomes this commitment, they are calling for the EU institution to take greater account of the entire nuclear value chain, as well as the extension of the life of existing nuclear power plants and the construction of major new reactor projects.
According to the National Energy-Climate Plans (NECPs), almost half of the Member States plan to use nuclear energy to promote decarbonisation and security of supply. (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)