Last year, Italy – the only G8 country without an operating nuclear power plant – took the first steps towards reversing its ban on nuclear energy, which it had imposed for nearly four decades.
Italy once had four operating nuclear reactors, but they were all closed in 1987 after the disastrous Chernobyl disaster turned public opinion against the energy source.
Since then, the Italian government has at times pushed for the return of nuclear power, but with limited success. Support for the energy source appears to have reached its peak in 2008 when the government announced plans to provide 25% of the country’s electricity needs through nuclear energy. But this too was rejected in a referendum after the Fukushima disaster in 2011.
Finally, in May last year, the lower house of parliament passed two proposals aimed at repealing the ban. The text only asks the government to “consider including nuclear energy as an alternative and clean source of energy production.”
It now seems likely that this intention will turn into action with Italian Energy Minister Gilberto Bechetto Frattin advertisement Last month, it plans to draft legislation by early 2025 to repeal the ban, with the hope of government approval within the next year.
Henry Preston, official spokesman for the World Nuclear Association, expressed his support for this decision Energy technology A nuclear renaissance is inevitable for the country.
The importance of the coup
“Italy’s reversal of its nuclear ban will be important for its energy transition and carbon neutrality ambitions,” says Preston, emphasizing nuclear power’s potential to provide “clean, reliable and safe electricity and heat, which can decarbonize many domestic and industrial applications.” .
Italy, like many countries around the world, has tried to accelerate decarbonization initiatives in recent years. For example, the country will no longer grant concessions for oil exploration and production, although the ban will only apply to new concessions, not those that have received government approval. It also plans to abandon coal-fired electricity by the end of 2025.
While these efforts have won praise among environmentalists, critics have raised concerns about the European country’s future energy security.
Preston believes nuclear power will be the solution: “There are no cases of countries without access to the vast natural resources of geothermal or hydroelectric power being able to significantly reduce fossil fuels from their energy supply without deploying nuclear power.”
He explains that Italy’s plans are in line with those of other countries, namely Belgium, France, Sweden, South Korea and Switzerland, which are also planning to revive their nuclear industries.
Italy’s nuclear plans: from SME to state-backed nuclear company
Despite the decades-long ban, Italy has retained key expertise in the nuclear sector.
“Italy has a long tradition in nuclear energy, is home to nuclear energy pioneers like Enrico Fermi, and has built and operated reactors safely in the 20th century,” says Preston.
“Since the phase-out of its pre-breeder reactors, Italy has maintained a high level of expertise in staff training and manufacturing capabilities that supports many other European countries that use nuclear power and are involved in the development of new small-scale reactors. [small modular reactors]”.
actually, Many Italian energy companies have followed nuclear developments abroad. State-controlled utility company Enel operates nuclear power plants in Spain, while Eni has invested in a project to develop nuclear fusion in the United States.
Edison, the Italian subsidiary of the French nuclear group EDF, is also developing Small and medium enterprises. These small and medium reactors could be introduced into the Italian energy mix by 2035, Frattin said.
Small and medium-sized projects are particularly attractive to Italy, as they have a relatively small footprint compared to other technologies such as wind and solar and can be built in years, rather than decades.
In addition, alongside legislation aimed at repealing the country’s nuclear ban, the government is reportedly planning to establish a state-backed nuclear energy company.
According to what was reported by many American media ReportsItalian officials have begun preliminary discussions with Ansaldo, Enel and Nucleo to develop the company.
The Energy and Climate Plan launched by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni estimates that if all nuclear revival plans proceed, nuclear energy could constitute 11% of the country’s domestic energy demand by 2050.
“Italy’s nuclear revival is inevitable, says World Nuclear Association” Originally created and published by Energy monitorwhich is a trademark of GlobalData.
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