Questions and answers on the 8th illustrative programme for nuclear (PINC)

This article is brought to you in association with the European Commission.

What will be the role of nuclear energy in the EU’s future energy mix?

Homegrown, affordable and clean energy is key for the EU to achieve its decarbonisation, competitiveness and resilience goals. To achieve a cost-effective and sustainable energy system, the EU will need a diversified energy mix incorporating both renewable and low-carbon technologies.

The EU 2040 Climate Target Plan emphasises the need for further electrification towards a fully decarbonised power system. The Commission’s impact assessment underpinning the Plan shows that renewable energy primarily, complemented by nuclear energy, will generate over 90% of electricity consumed in the EU by 2040.

The EU Treaties give each Member State the right to choose its own energy mix. For some of them, nuclear energy is an important means to decarbonise their economy, and it contributes to the security of energy supply. The updated National Energy and Climate Plans submitted by the Member States indicate that nuclear energy will continue to be a key contributor to clean electricity generation, industrial and residential heat, and hydrogen production for those Member States which opted to use it.

Crucially, nuclear energy should be developed in the most cost-effective way and be used in line with the highest standards of safety, security, and safeguards. Equally important is a responsible attitude towards a safe and sustainable management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, including their final disposal in deep geological repositories.

Member States should also keep working on diversification, ensuring security of supply from ore to nuclear fuel and push forward programs to eliminate current dependencies and avoid new dependencies in the future. All Member States should also consider the strategic importance of security of supply of radioisotopes, which are essential for both healthcare and various industrial applications.

How will the Commission ensure that nuclear power in Europe follows the highest safety standards?

The EU has a comprehensive and stringent framework for nuclear safety and waste management which underpins its leadership in this sector.

All nuclear investment projects need to comply with the highest standards of nuclear safety, security, radiation protection, radioactive waste management, and safeguards applicable in the EU. New nuclear projects must adhere to highest safety objectives, ensuring that innovative reactor designs meet these stringent requirements. According to PINC, Member States should intensify their efforts to provide long-term solutions for the management of high-level radioactive waste and spent fuel. To ensure the highest possible standards in nuclear safety, it is key to guarantee strong and independent nuclear safety authorities. This means having national nuclear safety regulators that are spared from political influence and that can count on sufficient staffing and financial resources to carry out their tasks effectively.

Engaging the civil society and the public at large in a transparent and open dialogue throughout all the stages of nuclear projects’ developments will also be pivotal for their success and acceptance.

Finally, efforts will be needed to ensure effective policies for decommissioning and management of radioactive waste and spent fuel.  EU Member States are bound to set out policies that incentivise progress in decommissioning and in the disposal of radioactive waste, including preparation of deep geological disposal facilities for spent fuel and high-level waste. Planning and investments in this area must run parallel to the developments of nuclear capacity.

How will the Commission help spur the necessary investments?

Some EU Member States are drawing up nuclear programmes to extend the operating life of existing reactors and announcing new builds, while others, in view of the latest technological developments, are considering including nuclear in their energy mix for the first time.

Based on updated National Energy and Climate Plans and investment projects reported by Member States, the Commission estimates a scenario of 109 GWe of net electricity generation capacity from large-scale nuclear reactors by 2050 (with an uncertainty range spanning between 70 GWe and 144 GWe). This would require investments of around €241 billion in present value terms: €205 billion for developing new large-scale reactors and €36 billion for extending the lifetime of existing ones.

Realising these investments will require a combination of diverse sources of public and private financing complemented by de-risking instruments. The instruments set out in the Electricity Market Design reform, particularly the “two-way contracts for difference” (CfDs), enable Member States to support project developers through re-allocating electricity market and construction risks. In addition, financing a project may rely on power purchase agreements (PPAs), that Member States may design as support instruments targeting the producer.

To facilitate the necessary investments, the Commission will provide guidance to Member States on how to design CfDs for energy-related projects, including their potential combination with PPAs, in line with the state aid rules, as indicated in Draghi’s report and announced in the Clean Industrial Deal.