nucleareurope highlights role of nuclear in Europe at launch of Business Alliance for Nuclear Energy
On 12 February 2025, the Mouvement des Entreprises de France (MEDEF) held in Paris a launch event for a newly formed Business Alliance for Nuclear Energy, which will bring together business federations committed to supporting an innovative European nuclear industry, with the aim of jointly sharing concerns to political decision-makers regarding the need to remove existing barriers to the development of the European nuclear sector.
During the event nucleareurope President Xavier Ursat, and nucleareurope Director General Yves Desbazeille intervened to highlight the role of the nuclear industry in the current European energy system, and to stress the importance of nuclear to reach net-zero in the EU by 2050.
In his intervention, Xavier Ursat detailed the role nuclear in the current European energy system, noting that in 2024, nuclear remained the first source of power generation in the EU, accounting for almost a quarter of total electricity production. He added that a large part of the European nuclear installed capacity is currently located in France, and that the country is set to further develop its nuclear industry, alongside other net-zero sources. He noted however that the expansion of electricity production capacities at the European level could only go hand in hand with increased electrification, and pledged for ambitious electrification policies in the EU.
Building on Ursat’s intervention, Yves Desbazeille stressed that nuclear is set to keep playing an essential part in the European energy transition, thanks to its generation of clean and reliable electricity, but also thanks to its potential for producing decarbonised heat and clean hydrogen.
“Nuclear generated clean power, heat and hydrogen will be key components of a net-zero Europe, and the importance of nuclear is increasingly recognised by public and private actors, as shown by announcements of ambitious targets for nuclear in many EU member States, or globally by Big Tech’s recent investments in nuclear energy” said Desbazeille, adding that the creation of the Business Alliance for Nuclear Energy – which will act alongside the European Nuclear Alliance of Member States – also pointed to the attractiveness of nuclear for both private and public actors.
Desbazeille further stressed that the objective of 150 Gigawatt (GW) of nuclear installed capacity in the EU by 2050, put forward by the European Nuclear Alliance of Member States, is within reach, and is reinforced by recent pledges to increase nuclear capacity in many EU countries’ National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) or in public announcements.
Concluding his intervention, Desbazeille gave an overview of the findings of the recent ‘Pathways to 2050’ report, which highlights that nuclear will allow the EU to decarbonise faster and at lower cost, while ensuring security of supply. He also announced the upcoming publication of report by Deloitte which will show that nuclear has a major positive impact on jobs and growth the EU.