The escalation of the Ukraine war has thrown a proverbial wrench into Europe’s energy landscape, spotlighting the continent’s reliance on Russian energy and giving nuclear power a comeback moment. In this complex scenario, public opinion, political sentiment, and international power plays are converging to redefine the role of nuclear energy in Europe’s future.
Let’s start with the surge in demand. The war has accelerated Europe’s urgency to transition towards nuclear energy as an alternative to Russian resources. The UK has ambitiously announced plans to construct up to eight new nuclear plants by 2030. This move is not just to insulate the nation from the rollercoaster of global oil and gas prices but also to build a hedge against geopolitical threats like the one Russia poses. Likewise, France has shown an uptick in positive public sentiment towards nuclear power, leaping from a lukewarm 34% in 2019 to a much more favourable 60% recently, a change partly attributed to the Ukraine crisis.
Across the Atlantic, the US is eyeing this European shift as a geostrategic win. As a forerunner in revolutionary nuclear technology, America could substantially benefit from this nuclear renaissance, strengthening its influence in European policy and possibly beyond.
But let’s not gloss over the environmental angle. As countries scramble to meet net-zero emissions targets, nuclear energy is increasingly viewed as a key player in the climate solution toolkit. The EU even classified it as “green” this past February, a move that did invite some backlash from environmentalists worried about nuclear waste and the potential for accidents.
However, not all European nations are jumping on the nuclear bandwagon. Germany, for instance, is still sceptical due to a complicated history and strong anti-nuclear sentiment among some of its political factions and citizens. This sentiment persists despite Germany facing an existential energy crisis, forcing both politicians and civil society to grapple with this ideological stance. The anti-nuclear movement is at a crossroads, stuck between an increasingly uncertain energy future and long-held beliefs.
There’s a rich range of opinions across Europe; a quarter of all electricity comes from reactors—often aging ones—in a dozen countries. While Western European nations like Finland, Sweden, Spain, and Belgium have been historical proponents, Eastern Europe is showing renewed interest. Countries like Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary are either initiating or expanding their nuclear capabilities.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has stated that for the world to meet its global net-zero emissions targets, the nuclear industry must nearly double in size over the next two decades. And it appears the Ukraine war has given this narrative a substantial push.
That said, the discourse isn’t monolithic. During COP26, five EU nations—Austria, Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, and Portugal—expressed their concerns to the European Commission about including nuclear energy in the EU’s green finance taxonomy. This move highlights the persisting political division within Europe on the subject.
Innovation is also entering the picture in the form of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). These are not only more affordable but are considered potentially safer, offering a new avenue for nuclear energy adoption across the continent.
Yet, it’s crucial to remember that nuclear energy isn’t a quick fix. Traditional large-scale plants take approximately a decade to come online, and even next-gen reactors need at least four years. These timelines have to be factored into any serious discussion about adopting nuclear power as an alternative energy source.
And let’s not forget civil society. Especially in countries like Germany, public opinion significantly influences the nuclear debate. This is driven by a mix of historical, ideological, and environmental concerns that can’t be easily dismissed.
Economic hurdles also exist. The high cost of constructing nuclear plants and navigating the labyrinthine regulatory environment remain substantial obstacles to widespread adoption. Despite the Ukraine war casting nuclear energy back into the limelight, these factors remind us that the path forward is not straightforward.
The war in Ukraine has reignited Europe’s relationship with nuclear energy. It’s a complex affair, where geopolitical considerations, climate goals, and public sentiment converge in an intricate dance. Each European country is interpreting this dance in its own way, influenced by a myriad of factors including politics, economics, and societal views. What’s clear is that the nuclear question has once again become impossible to ignore.
