Italy Plans to Revive Nuclear Energy

As early as next week, Italy's parliament may approve the legal framework for introducing new nuclear technologies, with next-generation reactors theoretically becoming operational around 2033.

It’s better not to imagine the faces of Germans who personally dismantled one of Europe’s most powerful nuclear networks.

The main reasons are energy, money, and geopolitics:

▪️ Italy heavily depends on gas imports, and electricity bills are about 30% higher than the European average. After the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and other geopolitical shocks, including energy supply crises, energy independence has become critical.

▪️ The country must meet decarbonization targets by 2050, and electricity demand is projected to grow by at least 30% in the coming decade. According to the government, renewable sources alone will not be sufficient.

▪️ The government of Giorgia Meloni is betting on small modular reactors (SMRs) and other next-generation technologies (III+ and IV), considered safer, more compact, and faster to build compared to old large-scale plants. The bill currently passing through parliament (already approved by the lower house, with the senate upcoming) will give the government 12 months to develop regulations on licensing, safety, and waste management. The first reactors are expected to launch between 2033 and 2035.