nuclear-news

EU Needs $280 Billion for Nuclear Energy, And That’s Just the Start

Oil Price.com, By Tsvetana Paraskova – Jun 18, 2025

• The European Union estimates it will require $277 billion in investments for conventional nuclear power expansion by 2050.
• Some EU countries are considering Small Modular Reactors and other advanced nuclear technologies as alternatives or supplements to traditional large-scale nuclear plants.
• The EU is also pursuing nuclear fusion research as a potential long-term solution for energy independence and decarbonization.

The European Union countries planning to expand their nuclear power capacities will need as much as $277 billion (241 billion euros) in investments by 2050, according to Brussels’ estimates.

That’s only the investment needed for the conventional large-scale nuclear reactors currently in the plans of nearly half of the EU member states. The sum doesn’t include investment in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs), or microreactors, or investment in nuclear fusion efforts.

Some EU countries are open to returning to nuclear power generation, but only via SMRs and other advanced nuclear energy technology—not conventional large-scale nuclear power plants. These will require additional billions of U.S. dollars in investment.

Delivering the EU’s current plans to boost nuclear energy capacity will require $277 billion (241 billion euros), both for lifetime extensions of existing reactors and the construction of new large-scale reactors, the European Commission said in its latest assessment of nuclear investment needs by 2050.

While the EU’s biggest economy, Germany phased out nuclear power in 2023, some other EU countries see nuclear energy as an important part of their decarbonization, industrial competitiveness, and security of supply strategies.

…………………………………………………… the required investment in SMRs will be in addition to the $277 billion the EU estimates is necessary for large-scale conventional reactors.

So, the price tag of Europe’s nuclear power ambitions will be much higher. While SMRs hold promise, they are unlikely to be deployed commercially before the 2030s, and large-scale conventional reactors are notoriously facing delays and cost overruns.

………………….. https://oilprice.com/Alternative-Energy/Nuclear-Power/EU-Needs-280-Billion-for-Nuclear-Energy-And-Thats-Just-the-Start.html

June 22, 2025 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, EUROPE