Abstract

In their search for a clean energy transition that ensures affordability, security of supply, and does not jeopardize the competitiveness of the economy, Member States are increasingly interested in building new nuclear power plants. France, Czechia, Poland, and Sweden, among others, have expressed their intentions to either reinforce their existing fleets or construct the first nuclear power plants in their countries. This trend can be described as a nuclear renaissance in the European Union. For this renaissance to become a reality, it is necessary to mitigate certain market risks, ultimately lowering investment costs. Considering well-known and new challenges facing new nuclear power plants, adequate support schemes, especially direct price support schemes, seem to be indispensable. The details of these support schemes will be honed by the European Commission in state aid proceedings. The Commission’s acknowledgment of the characteristics of this electricity generation technology, acceptance of incorporating lessons learned from previous projects, and flexibility in assessing new and innovative solutions and their compliance with EU law will ultimately determine the profitability and, consequently, the scale of the nuclear renaissance in the European Union. The state aid proceedings will play a crucial role in shaping the future of large-scale nuclear power plants in the European Union.