Lombardy pins its hopes on nuclear power (and fears a new referendum)

Lombardy faces the greatest paradox: having voted to phase out nuclear power in the referendums of 1987 and 2011, today – in the midst of an energy crisis – it is forced to import a very significant proportion of its energy from French and Swiss nuclear power stations, located just a stone’s throw from its borders. Italy imports around 17.8 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity from those countries, a figure generated almost entirely by older-generation nuclear reactors in France and Switzerland.

Now, with the approval of the enabling act proposed by Gilberto Pichetto Fratin, Minister for the Environment and Energy Security, Parliament has set out the objectives and general principles for a return to so-called ‘sustainable nuclear power’. It is now up to the government, in the coming months, to draft the legislative decrees necessary to regulate the production and use of nuclear energy (and, incidentally, failing to finalise these decrees within the remaining term of this parliamentary session would amount to a complete write-off). The government is focusing in particular on so-called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) – that is, modular reactors smaller in size and lower in power output than large traditional power stations – and on other advanced technologies such as Advanced Modular Reactors (AMRs). The year 2034 is being cited as a possible date for the commissioning of the first SMR. On the other hand, the rapid rise in demand for electricity – driven in part by the numerous data centres currently under construction, the other crucial sector for the Lombardy economy, though not the only one – demands clear decisions.

Marco Ricotti, professor of nuclear power plants at the Politecnico di Milano, is optimistic: “The timeframe could be reasonably short.” But what are the advantages of SMR nuclear reactors? “The cost per kilowatt installed will be higher than that of large reactors, but they do have other advantages. The first is reduced financial risk: building a large reactor requires an investment of 15 billion euros, whereas a modular reactor requires only 5. Construction times are shorter; in fact, modularity allows components to be manufactured in the workshop and then assembled on site. Another advantage comes from combined heat and power (CHP). Indeed, it is easier to utilise not only the electricity but also the heat generated, which can be used to produce hydrogen, district heating, large quantities of desalinated water, and even biofuels. All of this could open up new markets and also meet the needs of energy-intensive businesses.”

The issue of siting is no minor matter: could they be located near cities such as Milan or Brescia? “It is hard to imagine a nuclear reactor in the heart of a city. Although in the US they have already discussed new safety parameters for SMR reactors – in fact, the authority responsible for defining safety standards has approved a ‘safety zone’ that has been reduced from 10 miles for traditional reactors to 2–3 miles for these newer ones – these reactors could be situated near industrial areas.” And what about the waste? All reactors produce waste, depending on their size. The good news is that in Europe we will be able to manage hazardous radioactive waste safely because, as early as 2028, the first repository for this type of waste will come into operation in Finland. Furthermore, other European countries are working towards this goal, including France at Bure in the Meuse region, followed by Sweden,” concludes Professor Ricotti.

As regards the businesses concerned, one of the areas involved is undoubtedly the Brescia steel district, which is energy-intensive as it is Italy’s leading steel and metallurgy cluster in terms of strategic importance, volume and export capacity. Here, many local business leaders are pressing for the area to be considered as a site for the first SMR reactor. Confindustria Brescia, through its president Marco Streparava, has described this as an “essential choice” that must be fast-tracked, whilst Confapi has conducted an internal survey of SMEs in which 73 per cent of companies expressed support for nuclear power.

“For us,” explains Guido Guidesi, Lombardy’s Regional Councillor for Economic Development, “it is the only technology capable of ensuring energy self-sufficiency. As a region, we are ready to lend a hand; we are monitoring the development of various technologies, paying particular attention to what the new company set up by the government is expected to do.” Indeed, the government has established a new company dedicated to the development and technological research of third- and fourth-generation mini-nuclear power stations (SMRs and AMRs), involving major state-owned and state-controlled companies such as Enel, Ansaldo Nucleare and Leonardo. “But it is essential, as a starting point,” continues Guidesi, “to establish the Nuclear Authority, because until the regulatory framework is in place, we cannot move forward. The government must take the necessary steps, just as other countries that have opted for nuclear power have done. We in the Lombardy Region, together with Piedmont and Liguria, have sent a letter signed by the three regional governors asking the government for the Authority to be based in Liguria,” concludes Guidesi. Now all that remains is to work hard, keeping the spectre of a third repeal referendum at bay.