Faced with new energy shock, Europe asks if reviving nuclear is the answer
Faced with new energy shock, Europe asks if reviving nuclear is the answer
Across Europe, households and businesses are bracing for surging gas costs and climbing fuel expenses. While the UK government has urged people to maintain composure and proceed as usual, the European Commission, the EU’s governing body, has pushed for reduced travel and increased remote work. Policymakers caution that further disruptions could worsen the situation, especially if tensions in the Middle East escalate. Yet, the current crisis feels like a repeat of the 2022 cost-of-living crisis, which was fueled by energy price spikes and inflation after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This has reignited debates about energy independence, with nuclear power once again emerging as a potential solution for a self-sufficient European energy grid.
The rise of nuclear reconsideration
At the recent European Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris, Ursula von der Leyen, the EU’s top policymaker, criticized the continent’s abandonment of nuclear energy as a “strategic mistake.” In 1990, nuclear accounted for nearly a third of Europe’s electricity generation, but that share has dropped to just 15% today. This decline has left Europe reliant on costly and unstable fossil fuel imports, putting it at a disadvantage globally, she noted.
Europe imports over 50% of its energy, primarily oil and gas. This dependence makes it susceptible to supply shocks, such as those triggered by Russia’s energy export bans, or price surges like those seen now due to Iran’s impact on the Strait of Hormuz. While gas prices are rising uniformly across the region, electricity costs differ significantly. In Spain, which has prioritized wind and solar, electricity prices for the remainder of 2026 are expected to be about half of Italy’s, where gas dominates energy production.
France leads the nuclear charge
France remains Europe’s largest nuclear producer, generating around 65% of its electricity from this source. Based on future contracts, German electricity prices for next month are projected to be five times higher than in France, highlighting the stark contrast. Germany’s decision to phase out nuclear power following the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan left its energy-intensive industries—such as automotive and chemical sectors—heavily dependent on gas. This reliance has contributed to Berlin’s recent revision of its 2026 growth forecast, which now stands at just 0.6% of GDP due to global gas price increases.
The summit has sparked a fresh wave of interest in nuclear energy. As
“To build national resilience, drive energy security and deliver economic growth, we need nuclear,”
Reeves emphasized. Support for nuclear is growing in Scotland, according to recent YouGov polling, with most citizens now favoring it as part of the country’s energy strategy. France, ever the vocal advocate, has aligned with this shift, with President Emmanuel Macron highlighting nuclear’s role in achieving energy sovereignty while cutting carbon emissions. He argued that
“nuclear power is key to reconciling both independence, and thus energy sovereignty, with decarbonisation, and thus carbon neutrality,”
and also pointed to its potential in supporting AI-driven energy demands.
A political turning point
Until last year, Germany resisted efforts to treat nuclear on equal footing with renewables in EU legislation, creating friction with France. However, the country has since removed its anti-nuclear bias, a move some speculate ties to security concerns exacerbated by strained relations with the Trump administration. Germany has now asked France to expand its nuclear deterrent to other European nations, a proposal France accepted this month. Despite these developments, nuclear remains a long-term investment, not an immediate solution. Its potential as a panacea is still being debated, with Europe weighing its benefits against the challenges of implementation.
