In recent years, the issue of nuclear energy has gradually returned to the forefront of the European debate. After decades in which the trend was towards a gradual phase-out of nuclear power, the new energy and geopolitical landscape has brought the subject back to the attention of governments, businesses and the public.
Among the most closely watched cases are those of Italy and Germany, two of Europe’s leading economies that had chosen to abandon their nuclear programmes and are now engaging in a profound re-evaluation of the role this technology could play in the energy transition. This is an issue that we at Brian and partners hold very dear.
Today, fuelled by the energy crisis—particularly as a result of the global geopolitical situation—the topic is once again being seriously debated.
The cost of energy, self-sufficiency and the issue of security of supply have brought nuclear power back to the centre of the European debate. In addition to reducing emissions, it would guarantee a stable and completely self-sufficient source, completely reducing dependence on foreign countries. Stefano Besseghini, former president of ARERA, and Luca Mastrantonio, CEO of Nuclitalia, pointed out during their speech at the Festival of the Economy that over 90% of what is needed for nuclear power is available domestically.
In Italy, the debate has reignited partly due to technological developments in the sector, with particular focus on new generations of plants and the small-scale modular reactors, which promise greater design flexibility and different development times compared to traditional power stations.
Alongside the resurgence of the energy debate, an approach is emerging in Italy that aims to reshape the relationship between energy infrastructure and local communities. The idea is to allow local councils to volunteer to host potential nuclear-related infrastructure, moving beyond the logic of exclusively centralised siting. The stated aim is to forge a path based on local buy-in, local economic development, the sharing of benefits and greater social acceptance.
For a country with a strong industrial base, such as Italy, the issue also becomes central to economic policy. Participating in the sector’s growth means assessing whether to develop domestic capabilities or to depend entirely on foreign operators and technologies.
Beyond the energy issue itself, such a transition would lead to the creation of Italian industrial supply chains, with the development of skills, components, research, engineering, construction and services related to nuclear power. The aim is not to be completely dependent on foreign technology.
Overall, therefore, significant issues remain unresolved, such as implementation timelines, economic sustainability, infrastructure management, social consensus and integration with renewable energy, but the future of the country and of Europe cannot be envisaged without nuclear power.
