The letter, signed by nuclear corporations and research centres including France’s EDF and US-based Westinghouse, says nuclear should be included in the act as a strategic technology.
The act is expected to be presented by the commission on Tuesday (14 March). It is part of Europe’s Green Deal Industrial Plan which aims to support EU technologies that will get the bloc to net zero by 2050 and is the EU’s response to, in particular, the US Inflation Reduction Act.
The act is said to identify goals for net-zero industrial capacity and provide a regulatory framework suited for its quick deployment.
The open letter says the US has recognised the importance of supporting its nuclear sector by including it under the Inflation Reduction Act. By supporting the European nuclear sector through the Net-Zero Industry Act, the EU will “remain a key player in the global competition for clean technologies”.
Nuclear Industry Identifies Two Key Challenges
It says the European nuclear industry has identified two challenges which will affect the existing nuclear fleet and new build projects. They are: maintaining and developing the European nuclear supply chain and attracting skilled workers and revitalising nuclear education and training programmes.
Both of these challenges are at the heart of the act’s objectives, the open letter says.
It says nuclear accounts for the greatest share of the EU’s electricity mix – currently around 25% – and the European nuclear sector is composed of a highly skilled manufacturing capacity based in the EU.
“The nuclear value chain is well established in different EU member states,” the letter says.
“With an annual turnover of around €100 billion, the sector has a significant impact on the EU’s GDP of around €500 billion, according to a 2019 report by Deloitte.
Nuclear technologies are key to significantly decarbonising industrial sectors (e.g. mining, steel manufacturing, chemicals, aviation…) as they provide large volumes of low-carbon electricity, and potentially also heat, steam and hydrogen in future.”
The letter says that in addition to existing large reactors, small and advanced modular reactor technologies are developing rapidly, and all are expected to make a significant contribution to European objectives.
According to the letter, the value brought by nuclear extends beyond energy. For example, the European nuclear sector is an important player in the medical field providing essential diagnosis and treatment technologies.
