European Industrial Alliance on SMRs holds first Stakeholders’ Forum
On Tuesday 27 January, the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) held its first Stakeholders’ Forum in Brussels, providing a platform for exchange between industrial actors, policymakers and the civil society. The exchanges focused on advances towards the deployment of the first SMRs in the EU, the versatility of SMRs applications, and the policies needed to facilitate the development of the sector, just as the European Commission is drafting its upcoming SMR Strategy.
The European Industrial Alliance on SMRs was launched two years ago by the European Commission, the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) and nucleareurope to accelerate the development and deployment of SMRs in the EU by the 2030s. It brings together SMR developers, supply chain actors, end users, policy makers and civil society representatives.
The Stakeholders’ Forum was the Alliance’s first public event, and allowed to address key industrial, political and regulatory questions, through a wide range of perspectives. The policy outlook was given in multiple sessions, including opening addresses by European Commission Directorate General for Energy Acting Deputy Director Michael Huebel and Member of the European Parliament Christophe Grudler, the first panel session, which explored the role of SMRs in global energy developments, as well as a high-level address from European Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jørgensen. Commissioner Jørgensen specifically highlighted the need to harness all low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear, to reach net-zero.
The event also provided an opportunity for civil society actors to engage in the discussion around SMRs, especially on the topic of stakeholder engagement, which was discussed in a dedicated panel during the forum. The discussion allowed to present the results of European research projects on stakeholder engagement, and highlighted the importance of communication between all actors.
Throughout the event, the role of SMRs in the energy system was also discussed, with keynote speeches addressing the relationship between SMRs and global energy developments, as well as panel sessions on SMRs cross sectorial applications and innovations, and on safety and waste management.
Finally, the event was the occasion for SNETP President Bernard Salha, nucleareurope Director General Emmanuel Brutin, and Project Working Group leaders to present the Alliance’s Strategic Action Plan. Emmanuel also insisted on the necessity for the European financing framework to become genuinely enabling, technology-neutral and aligned with the long lead times and capital intensity of nuclear projects.