Italy adopted a law that sets the stage for the return of nuclear energy, but only through new technologies. The government is hoping to get the first facility online in less than ten years. “Today we import electricity produced by nuclear power plants in neighboring countries, but we cannot produce it ourselves,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stressed.
Almost forty years after a referendum that led to the closure of the last nuclear power plants, the government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni chalked up a U-turn. Italy’s initiative to allow the construction of reactors again is from 2023, and the cabinet adopted the bill last October. Following this week’s vote in the Senate of the Republic, there is an initial legal framework for such investments.
The Chernobyl disaster led to a referendum in 1987 in which citizens rejected nuclear power. An attempt at a revival was defeated at another plebiscite, in 2011, after the Fukushima meltdown.
New legislation opens way for necessary bylaws, community engagement
Italy is starting almost from scratch, as it shut down the remaining two units 36 years ago.
“Today we import electricity produced by nuclear power plants in neighboring countries, but we cannot produce it ourselves. This law serves to change things,” Meloni stated.
Meloni: The nuclear energy law is a response to demand for data centers and AI
It implies greater energy security for families and businesses, in her words. The administration has argued that nuclear power would weaken dependence on foreign sources and exposure to international turbulences, affecting expenses.
“We’re talking about next-generation technologies, not old power plants. Now the government will write the implementing regulations on safety, authorizations, waste management, and relations with local communities,” Meloni noted. She claimed the new legislation was a response to the growing demand for electricity for data centers and artificial intelligence.
No conventional nuclear power plants
The law promotes the development of technology for small modular reactors (SMRs), advanced modular reactors (AMRs), microreactors and nuclear fusion, while rejecting the currently conventional solutions.
Lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies passed the bill in June. Minister of the Environment and Energy Security Gilberto Pichetto Fratin expressed confidence that the first facility would come online by 2035.
He has cited disturbances from conflicts around Ukraine and Iran and claimed that nuclear power is significant for national security.
EU must cut its electricity bills for competitiveness
Notably, the coal phaseout has been lowering the base energy level in the electricity system across the European Union. The nuclear power fleet is ageing as well, and Germany abandoned the technology, contributing to power price volatility. The promoters of the so-called clean energy concept claim that the volatility of wind and solar power plants calls for more nuclear capacity.
The leaders in Brussels and member states are struggling to make industrial production competitive against the United States, China and other rivals, as they have much cheaper electricity.
Domestic industry preparing to produce equipment
Next steps for Italy are to determine locations, types of reactors and the procedure and financial structure for projects. Another significant factor is the manufacturing base.
In May, electricity utility Enel established a joint venture called Nuclitalia with two minority partners: engineering firm Ansaldo Energia (39%) and defense group Leonardo (10%). They are studying advanced technologies and analyzing market opportunities in the new nuclear sector.
France’s state-owned EDF and its subsidiary Nuward, developing SMR technology, established cooperation with Edison and other Italian companies such as Ansaldo Energia and Saipem.
