nucleareurope highlights the role of advanced reactors at Santander energy event

On 7 July 2025, Guilherme Cardoso, nucleareurope Technology Advisor, took part in a keynote and panel session during the summer course hosted by the Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo in Santander. The event, sponsored by Equipos Nucleares S.A. (ENSA), one of nucleareurope’s members, was titled Transforming energy: modular/advanced reactors and the road to nuclear fusion.

Guilherme participated in session 2: Advanced reactors – reimagining tomorrow’s energy, alongside a panel of distinguished speakers including Daniel López Solé, senior nuclear safety engineer at Steady Energy, and Lars Jorgensen, head of technical development at Thorcon. The session was moderated by Carlos Casanueva, a commercial engineer at ENSA.

In his keynote, Guilherme provided a comprehensive overview of nucleareurope’s role as the voice of the nuclear industry in Brussels, representing 15 national nuclear associations and numerous corporate members. He emphasised the organisation’s strong advocacy for expanding Europe’s nuclear capacity to at least 150 GW by 2050, in line with the ambition laid out by the Nuclear Alliance of EU Member States.

He highlighted the significant contributions of nuclear energy to the European economy, citing data from recent studies commissioned by nucleareurope. Under a 150 GW scenario, the nuclear sector is projected to sustain 1.4 million jobs, contribute over €250 billion in GDP, and enhance Europe’s energy independence and industrial competitiveness.

He also outlined key EU milestones relevant to nuclear energy, such as the upcoming SMR Industrial Alliance General Assembly, the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and the Clean Industrial Deal. The importance of small modular reactors (SMRs) in decarbonising Europe’s energy system, strengthening supply chain resilience, and securing long-term energy affordability was a central theme in his address.

His intervention reinforced nucleareurope’s commitment to shaping an energy transition where advanced nuclear technologies play a crucial role. His insights sparked dynamic discussions during the Q&A session, particularly on the regulatory, financial, and societal challenges ahead.

The session underlined a growing consensus: advanced and modular nuclear technologies are viable, scalable solutions for achieving Europe’s climate goals and ensuring a stable, clean energy future.