Breton: Nuclear will play "fundamental role" in EU's energy transition

The EU's Commissioner for the internal market Thierry Breton has stated the bloc will need to invest €500 million into nuclear energy by 2050 as part of the energy transition - roughly €20 million per year.

In an interview with French newspaper Journal du Dimanche on January 9, Breton stated it is " really necessary to move up a gear in the production of carbon-free electricity in Europe", adding that demand for electricity - particularly clean electricity - will double over the next 30 years.

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He said significant investments into both renewable and nuclear infrastructure will be required to meet energy goals and states that nuclear cannot be excluded from the energy mix, despite some opposition from activists.

The EU has been pushing for decarbonisation in energy markets as part of plans to become net-zero by 2050 as part of the EU Green Deal, this has included plans to clean up urban mobility and pushes for coal bans.

The energy transition was at the heart of the 2021 EU Industry Days conference, and the COP26 conference in November saw world leaders look to tackle the climate crisis firsthand.

"Existing nuclear plants alone will need €50 billion of investment from now until 2030", he said, with new nuclear plants requiring around €500 million by the mid-century.

He believes nuclear energy will play a "fundamental role" in helping the EU reach its climate goals.

Nuclear energy currently accounts for around 26% of the bloc's energy mix, and the Commissioner told the newspaper he expects this to fall to around 15% by 2050.

The status of nuclear in the EU's energy mix has been something of an unknown variable in the past. Earlier this month, the Commission included nuclear as part of its draft taxonomy regulations, meaning that it is considered as "green" energy and therefore not subject to the same sanctions as traditional fossil fuels.

The decision was met with widespread criticism from environmental groups, and official experts have until January 12 to provide a formal response to the draft proposal. The Commission says it hopes to adopt a final text by the end of the month.

The EU also held a citizens' panel on the energy transition between January 7-9 in a bid to adopt their 51 recommendations for the energy transition, the environment and public health going forward.

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The next plenary session is expected to take place on January 21-22 they will present the outcomes of their respective Panel discussions, and debate them with Members of the European Parliament, national government and parliament representatives, European Commissioners, and other Plenary Members from EU bodies, regional and local authorities, social partners and civil society.

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