Small modular reactors (SMRs) can help Europe into a new era of nuclear power and drive its energy independence, but require the political, public and financial will to realise their potential, an energy conference heard recently in Bilbao, Spain.

Conference organiser Enlit said a key message emerging from discussions was that Europe needed nuclear power to meet its industrial and environmental ambitions, but was being held back by political and investment uncertainty as well as public misconceptions.

However, participants saw nuclear energy, and in particular SMRs, as holding the key to begin writing a new narrative around nuclear power.