Europe in the 21^st century nuclear race

The European Commission has recently (on 10 March) published a strategy to accelerate and implement small modular reactors (SMRs) in Europe. SMR enthusiasts see not as yet another political document gathering dust, but rather as a start signal in the global race of which the energy future of the continent is at stakes.

The European SMR strategy is based on three key pillars:

1. Creating supply chains in the EU (European cooperation)
2. Mobilising investments and financing of the sector
3. Simplifying and unifying regulations – the aim is to harmonise provisions amongst the EU members to that the technology could be implemented fast and without unnecessary administrative barriers.
   

Small reactor, great revolution

SMRs (small modular reactors) are nuclear reactors designed in such a way as to make them smaller than their traditional counterparts and fully modular. This means that their components may be commercially manufactured and transported to the assembly location.

There are three main types of SMRs:

1. Light water small modular reactors (LWR – SMR) designed based on the existing technologies
2. Advanced IV generation modular reactors (AMR) with new coolants and fuels
3. Microreactors usually generating less than 10 MW of electricity. They have long fuel exchange cycles and can be transported.

The capacity of SMRs in the EU is estimated to reach from 17 to 53 GW, in the joint production of electricity, heat, hydrogen, and synthetic fuels.

What are SMRs advantages?

The baseline advantage of SMRs consists in, among others, their faster assembly, lower costs, flexible applications, small area coverage and flexibility in energy production (cooperation with renewable resources).

SMRs may also increase the EU’s energy safety and energy autonomy by lowering its dependency from the fossil fuels and at the same time, supplementing other forms of energy, such as energy from renewable resources.

Atom – not only for electricity production

It is the variety of applications that makes SMRs so attractive:
• Heating and cooling use as much as 50% of final energy in the EU, of which 75% still comes from fossil fuels. However, modern heat networks are already compatible with low pressure SMRs
• Data centres nowadays use approx. 70 TWh annually in Europe. By 2030, this value may increase to 115 TWh. SMRs are an ideal solution for hyperscale AI centres. Will quantum computers (revolution following that of AI) need as much, if not more, energy as AI centres?
• SMRs may also directly decarbonise chemical, steel, refinery, sea and defence sectors.

World has taken action. Europe must keep up

In December 2025, USA allocated USD 900 million in subsidies to first SMR implementations and approx. USD 450 million to support licence procedures. Canada has invested jointly over CAD 3 billion in erecting the first national SMR. The Great Britain has launched a fund (Advanced Nuclear Fund) of GBP 385 million. First SMRs have already been launched in China and Russia.

In the face of a global race on the SMR market, the EU should take immediate actions to stay competitive and keep the pole position.

Key challenges

The success of this undertaking depends on the availability of capital, exchange of knowledge, joining infrastructure and resources by various entities, unifying the regulatory framework in the member states, shortening of the length of procedures for issuing permits, standardising models, adopting the fleet approach, and developing strong supply chains.

Action plan – concrete steps, concrete funds

The first condition of success is launching the first SMR installations as soon as possible. This should take place no later than at the beginning of 2030s.

As part of the financing:
• The Commission will consider additional increase of funding within the InvestEU framework by EUR 200 million until 2028 in order to support the implementation of first commercial entities of innovative nuclear technologies.
• In 2024, five Euratom research projects launched of the value of EUR 30 million and the next EUR 15 million will be allocated for research in the Euratom programme for 2026–2027.

What does implementing SMRs in Poland look like now?
• KGHM Polska Miedź (one of the biggest Polish exporters and industrial recipients of electricity) cooperates with NuScale Power on implementing the SMR technology to supply industry processes.
• Orlen Synthos Green Energy (OSGE) works to implement BWRX-300 reactors made by GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy.

Laying foundations for first SMRs in Poland is planned to take place in 2028.

One race, joint run

SMRs should be considered a joint European industrial project. A fragmented approach would mean duplicating efforts, higher unit costs and undermining investor confidence.

Since February 2024, the European Industrial Alliance on Small Modular Reactors has gathered nearly 400 organisations, among them businesses, research institutes, governmental bodies, and NGOs, with a clear objective – launch the first SMR in the EU at the beginning of 2030s.

SMRs may significantly contribute to making the EU the first climate neutral economy in the world while at the same time ensuring the EU energy safety, affordable energy prices, and industry competitiveness.

Thus, the question is not “if” but “how soon”.