Nuclear fission is the process used to power all commercial nuclear reactors. Currently, there are 8 power reactors under construction in Europe. Half of the countries in the EU generate nuclear energy, with France leading the way, followed by Belgium and Spain. These countries have the potential to increase their power generation from existing reactors quickly, as most reactors do not usually operate at full capacity.
This was one of the solutions proposed by the International Energy Agency to reduce European dependence on Russian natural gas. At present, there are 106 operable nuclear reactors in the EU. Some are being dismantled, while others are having their useful life extended. Several new units are also being planned or built. In addition to power reactors, a full range of fuel cycle plants (from enrichment to waste storage and recycling) are in operation in Europe.
It is up to each EU Member State to decide its preferred energy combination. Currently, 13 of the 27 EU Member States use nuclear energy for power generation. Nuclear energy currently generates just over a quarter of all electricity in the EU. A number of countries have increased their nuclear power generation capacity by upgrading existing reactors. The Russian capture of Europe's largest nuclear power plant in Zaporizhia, Ukraine, has caused widespread condemnation after fighting was reported near the reactor. Countries that oppose the expansion of nuclear energy, such as Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and Portugal, have expressed concern about the disposal of nuclear waste and the risks of an accident.
The European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) established the foundations for nuclear energy in Europe in 1957. The European Commission has proposed a stress test for all nuclear power plants in Europe to demonstrate that they can withstand incidents such as those that occurred at Fukushima. The Commission is ready to decide later this year whether to classify nuclear energy as a clean energy source; if it does, it could boost investment in nuclear energy across the region. Despite its heavy reliance on nuclear energy, Slovakia only operates four plants, showing how effective nuclear energy can be. It is essential that European society and economy prevent any nuclear accident from occurring in the EU by ensuring the highest possible quality of regulatory oversight and nuclear safety standards in each Member State. Reprocessing involves recovering fissionable and fertile materials from used nuclear fuel to provide MOX fuel to nuclear power plants. Although plutonium is commonly associated with nuclear weapons, plutonium extracted through reprocessing is not suitable for “classic” nuclear weapons.
