Nuclear power in the European Union

Nuclear power in the European Union accounted for approximately 26% of total electricity production in 2019^[1] and nearly half of low-carbon energy production across the EU.^[2]

The energy policies of the European Union (EU) member countries vary significantly. As of February 2020, 13 out of 27 countries have nuclear reactors. The countries with reactors are: Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.^[3] The United Kingdom (a former member of the European Union with interconnected electricity links with the EU) also operates nuclear reactors.

As of November 2021, 5 member countries jointly urged the European Commission to keep nuclear power out of the EU's green finance taxonomy; namely the countries are Germany, Austria, Portugal, Denmark, Luxembourg.^[4]^[5]^[6] As they collectively comprise less than 19% of the member states & less than 25% of the overall European Union population, they would be unable to block the European Commission's recommendations to include both natural gas and nuclear power within the EU's green finance taxonomy.^[6]

^ "Nuclear power plants provide about a quarter of EU's electricity". ec.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
^ "The role of nuclear in a low-carbon Europe". energyfocus.the-eic.com. Energy Focus. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
^ "Power Reactor Information System". International Atomic Energy Agency. 18 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2010.
^ "Joint Declaration for a nuclear-free EU Taxonomy - BMUV-Meldung". bmuv.de (in German). Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
^ Kurmayer, Nikolaus J. (12 November 2021). "Five EU countries form anti-nuclear alliance at COP26". www.euractiv.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
^ ^a ^b "EU moves to label gas and nuclear energy as 'green'". dw.com. 1 January 2022. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.

[1] "Nuclear power plants provide about a quarter of EU's electricity". ec.europa.eu. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.

[:0-2] "The role of nuclear in a low-carbon Europe". energyfocus.the-eic.com. Energy Focus. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2021.

[3] "Power Reactor Information System". International Atomic Energy Agency. 18 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 18 September 2010.

[4] "Joint Declaration for a nuclear-free EU Taxonomy - BMUV-Meldung". bmuv.de (in German). Archived from the original on 20 February 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.

[5] Kurmayer, Nikolaus J. (12 November 2021). "Five EU countries form anti-nuclear alliance at COP26". www.euractiv.com. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.

[dw_2022-6] "EU moves to label gas and nuclear energy as 'green'". dw.com. 1 January 2022. Archived from the original on 3 January 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]