The reunion revitalizes the nuclear power plants of Europe. A great continental power reopen them

The wind of nuclear energy blows more and more strongly in Europe. It is not just about the mini-reactors that Italy relies, and not only about France, which produces more than half of the nuclear energy of the European Union. However, this wind is fueled by the tensions of war and re -arming, writes ilfattoquotidiano.it.

Nuclear Central of Germany/Photo: Archive

While Minister Matteo Salvini rejects the idea of ​​a public investment of 200 million euros in New Cleo, the startup projecting the third and fourth generation nuclear reactors, and the ministers of the environment and industry, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin and Adolfo Urso, stresses that “no decision has been made”, the European Commissioner for Energy, Modular mini-rectors for the future of Europe.

Answer a question from the parliamentarians, Jørgensen stressed that “it is the responsibility of each Member State to decide” whether or not it will produce nuclear energy. There is no pressure from the European Commission, which, in 2023, included nuclear in green taxonomy, thus being recognized as sustainable and eligible energy sources for financing. The European Commission also organized a meeting with several representatives of the European nuclear industry on April 7, an event that will be chaired by Jørgensen. In this context, the Member States will make their own decisions. In Italy, Salvini reaffirmed that there is no renunciation of nuclear power plants, but it has clarified its strategic position: “We have public trusts (Ansaldo, ENI and Leonardo), I do not understand why we should invest hundreds of millions of euros in private companies.”

Berlin returns to a difficult decision

Before the gradual closure of the boilers, which started in 2011, Germany had 13 reactors (4 already withdrawn) in 8 plants. In April 2023, Germany completed the closure of the last three active nuclear boilers: ISAR 2, Neckarwestheim and Emsland. Once historical, but more and more are convinced that this decision was a mistake. The leaders of CDU and CSU, Friedrich Merz and Markus Söder, stressed in a working document that an investigation should be carried out to check if the reopening of the boilers is technically and economically possible. Although this document does not yet reflect the official position of the parliamentary group, CDU and CSU analyzes the possibility of reopening six plants. At the same time, the Focused Energy startup signed an agreement with the German RWE giant for a nuclear fusion pilot, planned to be completed by 2035 at the former Biblis central, in HESSA, where disassembly started in 2017.

Spain extends the life of the power plants

In Spain, electricity companies are doing more and more pressures on the government to keep the nuclear power stations and to review the closing calendar established in 2019, which provides for the gradual closure of the reactors between 2027 and 2035. The multinational Endea and Iberdrola, the main nuclear operators, as well Estremadura, with “two or three years”, to respect the objectives in the national plan integrated from energy and climate. Also, an agreement between Endea, Iberdrola, Natury and EDP provides for a gradual closing of the reactors from 2027. The government led by Pedro Sánchez said it is “opened to discussions”.

Belgium saves two reactors, Sweden builds four others

In Belgium, the Government decided to extend the lives of the Doel 4 and Tihange Reactors. In 2024, the European Commission launched an investigation, however, after adjustments and checks, it approved the measure according to European state aid regulations. At the same time, in Sweden the works for the construction of the second radioactive waste deposit in the world, at Forsmark, began, and the government is close to presenting a financial plan for the construction of four more nuclear power stations.

France, 12

In Normandy, after multiple delays, the European pressurized reactor (EPR) from Flamanville was inaugurated in December 2022. The project had significant delays and costs much higher than initially estimated, reaching about 13.2 billion euros. EDF, the French electric giant, announced that the first network connection took place in December 2021, but in the first 100 days of operation, the reactor had 76 days of maintenance.