Conclusions show ‘broader value’ reactor industry can bring to bloc
An increase of installed nuclear capacity in the EU to 150 GW by 2050 – up from around 106 GW today – would generate over €330bn (€379bn) in annual economic output and support nearly 1.5 million jobs across the EU, according to a report by Deloitte, commissioned by the Brussels-based industry group nucleareurope.
If 200 GW were in operation, €330bn of economic output would be generated and more than 1.6 million jobs would be sustained each year.
Currently, the nuclear sector contributes with an impact on EU’s economic output amounting to €251.2bn and generates yearly public revenues of about €47.6bn. It supports more than 883,000 jobs a year.
Nucleareurope said the conclusions of the report further demonstrate the broader value which nuclear can bring across the three pillars of sustainability: environmental, economic and social.
“Nuclear is one of the few net-zero value chains that is anchored in Europe, and this is clearly reflected in the figures put forward by this report,” said nucleareurope director-general Emmanuel Brutin.
“It shows how, by investing in nuclear, Europe can reap the benefits in terms of stimulating economic growth and job creation, alongside ensuring security of supply and meeting the decarbonisation targets.”
Brutin said it is important that the European Commission provides the right policy framework to stimulate long-term investment in nuclear through, for example, the Nuclear Illustrative Programme, or Pinc, and the next Multiannual Financial Framework, which is the EU’s long-term budget, setting a maximum amount for EU expenditure over a seven-year period
Nucleareurope is watching closely the finalisation of the Pinc, due this summer.
The document must include actionable steps to support nuclear investment, Brutin told NucNet recently.
The last Pinc was published in 2016. In April, Brussels opened a four-week long consultation period on a new Pinc.
According to the commission, the updated Pinc aims to give a “clear, fact-based picture” of nuclear energy investments across the EU.
It is expected to outline investment needs, challenges, and opportunities across the full nuclear lifecycle.
