WEMO 2025 (complet) - Flipbook - Page 22
W E M O 202 5
O U T LO O K
2023 COP28’s participants pledged to triple nuclear
capacity by 2050151 highlighting renewables’ limitations to
meet rising energy demands, particularly for baseload power
needs. Let us analyse the actions needed to reach this very
ambitious target:
149https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/9-key-takeaways-president-trumps-executiv
e-orders-nuclear-energy
150
https://planetdetroit.org/2024/10/palisades-nuclear-plant-restart/
151
https://www.iaea.org/bulletin/what-the-nuclear-declaration-at-cop28-means-for-iaeaverification#:~:text= On%202%20December%202023%2C%20during,reach%20that%20target%20
by%202050.
152
https://www.nucadvisor.com/post/stress-corrosion-cracking-on-french-npps-an-overviewrepair
153
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/german-nuclear-association-calls-for-restartof-reactors#:~:text=The%20Brokdorf%2C%20Grohnde%20and%20Gundremmingen,at%20
various%20stages%20of%20decommissioning.
154
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/
deal-finalised-for-belgian-reactor-restarts-in-november
155
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/planned-end-to-ban-on-new-nuclear-power-plantconstruction-sparks-new-nuclear-debate/89103321
• Extend the reactors' lifetimes: In the US, 20 reactors,
representing more than a 昀椀fth of the nation’s 昀氀eet, are
planning to operate up to 80 years158 . More reactors
are expected to apply for an extension in the future as
they get closer to the end of their operating licenses.
On July 1, 2025, the French Nuclear Safety Authority
authorized an extension beyond 40 years of the lifespan of
EDF’s 20, 1300MW capacity reactors 159. This authorization
follows the one given in 2021 regarding the 32, 900 MW
capacity reactors.
• Reopen safe reactors: As mentioned above two US reactors
are planned to be re-opened. In Japan after the 2011
Fukushima Daiichi accident, all the country’s 33 reactors were
stopped. In May 2025, Japan’s Nuclear Regulation Authority
cleared the restart of Hokkaido Electric Power’s Tomari No. 3
reactor. This approval (the 昀椀rst since 2021) should boost the
government’s e昀昀ort to increase nuclear power generation and
reduce dependence on fossil fuels (notably LNG). However
fewer than half of Japan’s operable reactors have resumed
due to lengthy regulatory checks and upgrades, as well as
local opposition.
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/spanish-nuclear-industry-calls-forrethink-of-phase-out-policy#:~:text=Companies%20representing%20the%20Spanish%20
nuclear,scheduled%20to%20shut%20by%202035.
157
This stability is provided by the rotating machines of nuclear plants
158
https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/whats-lifespan-nuclear-reactor-much-longer-you-mightthink#:~:text=Eighty%2Deight%20of%20America's%2092,additional%2020%20years%20of%20
service.
159
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/
french-regulator-says-1300-mw-units-can-operate-beyond-40-years
156
WEMO 2025
Big players as Microsoft, Google, IBM and Amazon,
commitments to use low carbon electricity are pushing them
to sign power purchase agreements with nuclear providers
as seen in Microsoft’s 2024 deal to restart a unit at Three
Mile Island. After securing a $1.52 billion loan from the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE), the 800 MW Palisades nuclear
power plant in Michigan, is set to restart perhaps in 2025150
or the following year.
• Not allowing political pressure to interfere with nuclear
reactors that could continue to operate safely. Following
a government decision, in H1 2020 the French utility EDF
permanently shut down the two unit of the Fessenheim
nuclear power plant that could have continued to operate
safely for years. This capacity was missing during the 202223 crisis when EDF had to stop many plants for inspections
and repair of pipes impacted by stress corrosion.152
Germany, for political reasons, closed its three last
reactors in 2023153 (after the 2022 crisis) and now Germany
struggles with a lack of clean dispatchable electricity to
balance high renewable generation. This situation results
in an increasing number of hours with negative prices.
In contrast, following the 2022 energy crisis, the Belgian
government wisely decided in December 2023 to extend by
10 years the lifetimes of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 (that were to
be shut down by 2025)154. Also, Switzerland’s Federal Council is
seeking to lift the country’s ban on new nuclear power plants155.
In March 2025, companies representing the Spanish nuclear
industry signed a manifesto calling for the long-term
operation of the country's nuclear power plants156 (under
current plans, Spain's power reactors are all scheduled to shut
down by 2035). The April 28, 2025, giant black-out in Spain
and Portugal (see below)157 strongly supports this position,
as it will improve the grid management.
21
• In the US, this renaissance is triggered both by Gen AI
electricity needs and by the boost given to domestic
nuclear power by President Donald Trump's executive
orders149. Following these announcements aiming to add
300 GW of new U.S. nuclear capacity by 2050, Westinghouse
announced its intention to build 10 new APR1000.
