Europe Turns to Small Modular Reactors Amid Geopolitical Crises
241 billion euros in investments are needed by 2050 to deploy between 17 and 53 gigawatts of SMR capacity in Europe, according to a strategy published in March 2026 by the European Commission. This ambition is rooted in a context of critical energy dependency: European dependence on Russian gas fell from 45% in 2021 to 15% in 2023, but Russia still supplies 573 of the 707 tonnes of uranium imports to the EU in 2023. Europe is seeking to transform this geopolitical vulnerability into an industrial opportunity with mini-reactors, a technology it does not yet fully master.
First European SMRs Targeted for Early 2030s
The European strategy aims to bring the first SMR projects online in the early 2030s, with total capacity estimated between 17 and 53 GW by 2050. The European Industrial Alliance for SMRs has identified nine projects it will support as the first batch of working groups, marking a significant step toward the objective of deploying SMR technologies in Europe in the early 2030s.
The most advanced project is located in Romania. Romanian state nuclear operator Nuclearelectrica approved a final investment decision for a 462 MWe NuScale SMR project with six modules on the former coal power plant site at Doicești, marking the transition from the analysis phase to implementation. The goal is to deploy this NuScale VOYGR-6 facility by the end of the decade.
In Sweden, Vattenfall plans to deploy SMRs at the Ringhals nuclear site, with operational startup scheduled for the first half of the 2030s at the earliest. Poland is also developing a fleet of BWRX-300 reactors with the first unit expected to be in service by the end of the decade.
The Absence of European Licensing Reveals a Technological Deficit
No SMR concept has yet obtained regulatory approval in the EU or even begun licensing processes. They are therefore far from broad commercial introduction. This situation contrasts sharply with stated ambitions. Europe, despite considerable nuclear expertise, lags behind countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and China in SMR development.
The regulatory challenges are substantial. Licensing barriers include the existing legal and regulatory framework, regulatory fragmentation, technological novelty, and the absence of factory certification. Challenges concern regulatory fees, regulatory capacity gaps, and prolonged licensing timelines.
Licenses remain largely national, fragmented, and overly rigid. While responsibility for nuclear safety must remain under national authority, repetitive evaluations of the same designs increase costs and slow deployment. The European strategy proposes establishing a coalition of member states for SMRs to coordinate policy, regulatory, and licensing approaches, including possible alignment or mutual recognition of licensing decisions.
241 Billion Euros to Close the Technological Gap
Estimates from the NECP indicate that approximately 241 billion euros in investments will be necessary by 2050 to realize the nuclear ambitions of EU countries. These investments will cover life extension of existing reactors and construction of new large-scale facilities, as well as additional investment to realize the potential of SMRs.
At the end of 2024, 101 nuclear reactors were operating in the EU with a net installed capacity of approximately 98 GW. By 2050, the capacity of large-scale nuclear reactors is expected to increase to approximately 109 GW, requiring investments of approximately 241 billion euros, split between 205 billion for new construction and 36 billion for life extensions.
The Commission plans 200 million euros via the InvestEU program to accelerate SMR commercialization by 2028, a modest sum compared to massive investments by international competitors. The United States has allocated 900 million dollars for SMR projects, Canada is investing 3 billion Canadian dollars, and the United Kingdom has established a fund of 385 million pounds.
SMRs Facing Energy Geopolitical Crises
European enthusiasm for SMRs is rooted in lessons from energy dependency. The energy crisis taught the European energy market a harsh lesson. The large share of Russian oil and gas imports in Europe’s energy mix had created over-dependence on a single, unreliable supplier.
Russia still supplies approximately 13% of the EU’s gas, including 16% of its liquefied natural gas. The EU spent approximately 4.5 billion euros on Russian LNG in the first half of 2025, with a complete ban planned for January 2028. More concerning, Russia remains a major source of nuclear fuel for countries with Russian-designed reactors. It supplied 573 of the 707 tonnes of EU uranium imports in 2023, compared to 314 tonnes in 2022.
This nuclear dependency reveals the urgency of European SMRs. Analysis from Russian state-supported media argues that an energy mix based on nuclear and natural gas would be a better solution. Similar arguments will likely continue as Russia’s major energy markets pursue a greener energy path.
European Industry Facing Global Competition
Several countries—the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Russia, and China—are actively developing SMR designs. Some projects are already grid-connected or under construction, underscoring growing global momentum for this technology. The first SMRs are already operational in China and Russia.
Facing this competition, the Commission envisions that SMRs could mobilize entire value chains across countries and sectors to become one of the region’s next major industrial development projects. The strategy emphasizes a competitive European supply chain that should ensure a high degree of local content and European added value in all SMR projects.
The EU currently has many SMR concepts at different development stages—the European Industrial Alliance for SMRs supports eight different technologies, too many for the first wave of deployment. Concentrating initial efforts on a limited number of sufficiently mature designs would enable the accumulation of regulatory experience, investment in the supply chain, and workforce development.
The stakes go beyond simple energy autonomy. As global energy storage exceeds 100 GW and becomes a financial asset, SMRs could transform Europe from a technology importer into an exporter of modular nuclear solutions. The initiative reflects a broader industrial ambition: to ensure that Europe remains competitive in a sector where the United States, Russia, and China are advancing rapidly.
Europe is staking its technological credibility on SMRs. Between geopolitical ambitions and industrial realities, success will depend on the ability to rapidly harmonize national regulations and mobilize investments commensurate with international competition. The countdown to 2030 has begun.
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