Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Italy’s Minister for Environment and Energy Security, has presented the potential scale of nuclear power capacity if the country chooses to revive its nuclear energy program.
Renewables and Nuclear: A Complementary Approach
Speaking at the Global Energy Transition Congress in Milan, Italy, Minister Fratin said: “By launching Italy’s platform for sustainable nuclear power, we have initiated an evaluation process, certainly after 2030, on the possible resumption of nuclear power in Italy.
We intend to do so by implementing the new sustainable nuclear technologies currently being developed, particularly small modular fission reactors (SMRs) and, in the long term, through fusion power.
“Nuclear and fusion will complement the increasing penetration of energy production from renewable sources and other low-carbon solutions.
We expect to be able to reach about 8 GW from nuclear power by 2050, covering more than 10% of the nation’s electricity demand. This percentage may increase to over 20-22% by fully exploiting the nuclear power potential in our country.”
National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan
The Italian government has included the potential nuclear capacity – both the conservative 11% of capacity option and the ambitious 16 GW/20-22% of capacity – in its National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan, which was submitted to the European Commission on Monday.
The document also outlines Italy’s aim to have 131 GW of power from renewables by 2030 – 79 GW solar, 28 GW wind, 19 GW hydro, 3 GW bioenergy, and 1 GW from geothermal sources.
Positive Response from Newcleo
A spokesperson for Italian-founded innovative reactor developer Newcleo described the announcements as a “good step forward,” noting the focus on SMRs and advanced modular reactors.
They also highlighted that a key aspect of the Italian government’s submission was the estimated cost savings of EUR 17 billion (USD 18.2 billion) in achieving climate goals with the inclusion of nuclear power compared to without.
Historical Context and Policy Shifts
Italy operated four nuclear power plants starting in the early 1960s but decided to phase out nuclear power after a referendum following the 1986 Chernobyl accident. The last two operating plants, Caorso and Trino Vercellese, were closed in 1990.
In the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi accident in 2011, the Italian government imposed a moratorium on new nuclear power plant construction.
However, public sentiment has shifted since then, and in May 2023, the Italian Parliament approved a motion urging the government to consider reintegrating nuclear power into the country’s energy mix.
Emerging Plans for Nuclear Energy
Various plans for nuclear energy are emerging in Italy. In October, Edison announced its ambition to construct two nuclear power plants based on EDF’s SMR technology between 2030 and 2040, “if the conditions are created for its return to Italy.”
In September 2023, the government established the National Platform for a Sustainable Nuclear to define a timeframe for the potential reintroduction of nuclear energy and identify opportunities for the existing Italian industrial chain in the sector.