The comeback being staged by atomic energy is currently a hot topic of debate in many countries around the world, just as it is in Italy. During this roundtable discussion devoted to the issue, official figures were cited confirming the ferment of activity in this sector, with 65 new nuclear power plants under construction in 16 different countries. According to some of the participants in attendance, there are many technical, economic and geopolitical factors which justify the nuclear option for Italy, whilst others went further, describing it as an almost “inevitable” choice.
The discussion thus turned to an examination of the conditions that need to be in place in order for Italy to resume building new nuclear electricity-generating plants. It was observed that there are many such conditions, all of which are interconnected, and that prioritizing between them is a difficult task. There was however a general consensus that nuclear power should not itself be seen as the ultimate goal, but as a means to achieving a balanced energy portfolio.
The factors which shape energy policy were singled out as project costs, resource supply security and environmental impact. Any new National Energy Plan, it was felt, should clearly define the energy objectives and strategies that current and future governments undertake to pursue. The energy mix identified as ensuring environmental sustainability will, “inevitably”, need to take into account the state of development and costs of existing technologies, and thus rely less on oil and more on renewable and nuclear energies.
Italian institutions, not just at the national but also at the local level (including regional, provincial and municipal authorities) will therefore need to play an important role in providing the necessary assurances regarding the relevant permit-approval procedures, turnaround times, technical requirements, and the criteria for carving up the benefits stemming from the siting of facilities within their respective jurisdictions.
It was stressed that garnering a broad consensus in favor of nuclear power will undoubtedly be a key factor, thus making it essential that the message is put across in clear, simple and concrete terms. It is crucial to be able to explain the benefits of nuclear power in meeting the criteria of cost-effectiveness, supply security and the elimination of CO2 emissions. In addition, the safety of the technology, which has now reached high quality and reliability standards, must be demonstrated.
The participants also pointed to the need to explain that waste disposal processes offer recycling solutions for nuclear byproducts just as they do with conventional refuse – options that enable high reduction factors for final waste volumes, thereby lowering human and environmental risks. Any awareness campaigns will generate greater support if they can also present concrete results regarding the upgraded safety measures rolled out at nuclear facilities inherited from the past, thereby showing that nuclear power has gained real momentum as a practical option.
A further point examined by the participants was the need for Italy’s nuclear industry to have an internationalized outlook. Now more than ever, the global nature of the nuclear phenomenon calls for concerted efforts at an international level. Within Europe, one of the greatest barriers to integration has been the lack of free interconnections between national networks, which are essential for a pan-European energy grid to become a reality. Italy could, in this regard, serve as a role model and lead the way.
Last but not least, the participants stressed that innovative solutions will be required in approaches to financing the return to nuclear power, which, through win-win mechanisms, provide incentives for producers, large and small consumers and local communities to each play a responsible role.