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Nuclear Power in Italy: An Opportunity for the Country's Energy Future

Nuclear power has returned to the center of public debate in Italy, and beyond. The growing demand for energy, the need to decarbonize the production system, and the geopolitical challenges linked to fossil fuels have prompted many countries to re-evaluate this energy source. In Italy as well, after the 1987 referendum that decreed its abandonment, there is a growing interest in nuclear power, fueled by various industrial and political players.

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In February 2025, Confindustria organized a conference in Rome to relaunch the International Energy Agency's (IEA) report on nuclear power. The event saw the participation of important figures from the industrial and political world, including Aurelio Regina, delegate of the president of Confindustria for Energy, and Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister of Environment and Energy Security1. During the conference, Aurelio Regina stressed the importance of nuclear power for the energy transition and to maintain the competitiveness of Italian industry. "If we want to maintain our industrial vocation and at the same time proceed with the energy transition, nuclear energy is an unavoidable option."1

Minister Pichetto Fratin expressed openness towards nuclear power, stating that "The draft law on nuclear energy is ready and will go to a forthcoming council of ministers, I hope it can be approved by the autumn. In the meantime, we are working with the Ministry of Economy on the bill decree. It is possible that they will arrive together. On the coverage we have to check with the Ministry of Economy, they are doing it, we will see in the next few days. My commitment is to create the conditions to provide answers to the needs of the country."1

Nuclear Power in the European Context

At the European level, nuclear power is experiencing a phase of strong development. The European Commission has included nuclear energy in the Green Taxonomy, recognizing its role in the fight against climate change. Several European countries, including France and Sweden, are investing in new nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and fast reactors. Italy, despite not having active nuclear power plants, participates in research and development projects in the nuclear field at the European level.2

The Draghi Report

The Draghi Report on European competitiveness, published in September 2024, underlines the importance of energy at competitive prices for the economic growth of the European Union. The report highlights how the cost of energy in Europe is significantly higher compared to other regions of the world, such as the United States and China. This competitiveness gap is due to several factors, including dependence on natural gas imports, exposure to spot markets, and price volatility. The Draghi Report does not explicitly express itself in favor of nuclear power, but underlines the need to diversify energy supply sources and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.3

The Advantages of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power has several advantages compared to other energy sources:

Low environmental impact

nuclear power plants do not produce greenhouse gas emissions during their operation, contributing to the fight against climate change.

High efficiency

nuclear power plants have high energy efficiency, producing large amounts of energy with a relatively small amount of fuel.

Reliability

nuclear power plants can operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, guaranteeing a stable and continuous energy supply.

Safety

nuclear power plants are designed and operated according to strict safety standards, minimizing the risk of accidents.

The Challenges of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power also presents some challenges:

Construction costs

the construction of a nuclear power plant requires substantial investments and long times.

Waste management

the radioactive waste produced by nuclear power plants must be managed and disposed of safely.

Social acceptance

public opinion is often divided on nuclear power, due to concerns related to safety and environmental impact.

The Future of Nuclear Power in Italy

The future of nuclear power in Italy is still uncertain. Despite the growing interest from some sectors, public opinion remains divided and the political picture is not yet entirely favorable to a return to this energy source. However, the energy and environmental challenges that the country faces could push to reconsider the role of nuclear power in the national energy mix. Italy has a long history of research and development in the nuclear sector. In the 1960s and 1970s, the country built and operated several nuclear power plants, but the 1987 referendum led to their closure. Today, Italy participates in research and development projects in the nuclear field at the European and international level.4

New nuclear technologies, such as SMRs, offer the possibility of building smaller, safer, and cheaper plants compared to traditional ones. These technologies could represent a solution for Italy, allowing it to produce clean and reliable energy without the risks and high investment costs of large plants.5

Conclusions

Nuclear power is a controversial energy source, but it has undoubted advantages in terms of decarbonization, efficiency, and reliability. Italy, despite having abandoned nuclear power in 1987, is witnessing a renewed interest in this energy source, fueled by the energy and environmental challenges that the country faces. The future of nuclear power in Italy will depend on the ability to overcome the challenges related to costs, waste management, and social acceptance.

An informed and transparent public debate on the topic is fundamental to overcome the resistances and fears related to nuclear power. Italy has the skills and technologies to return to being a leading country in the nuclear sector, contributing to the energy transition and economic growth of the country.

  1. Picchio N. (2024, 21 February). Le imprese: nucleare unica via per industria e transizione. Il Sole 24 Ore, 5. ↩↩

  2. IEA (2025), The Path to a New Era for Nuclear Energy, IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/the-path-to-a-new-era-for-nuclear-energy, Licence: CC BY 4.0 ↩

  3. Draghi, M. (2024), The future of European competitiveness. https://commission.europa.eu/topics/eu-competitiveness/draghi-report_en ↩

  4. World Nuclear Association. (2025, 17 January). French-Italian collaboration on SMR deployment. world-nuclear-news.org. https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/french-italian-collaboration-on-smr-deployment ↩

  5. IAEA (2023, September 14). What are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)? International Atomic Energy Agency. Retrieved February 21, 2025, from https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-are-small-modular-reactors-smrs ↩