The first small modular reactors are expected to be built as early as the beginning of the 2030s.

A leaked document from the European Industry Alliance for Small Modular Reactors (SMR), of which Slovakia is a member, shows that the future of these reactors in Europe rests on two pillars: uniform technical standards and stable financing, writes Euractiv.

The alliance's goal is to build the first operational small modular reactors in Europe by the early 2030s and enable the continent to compete with the United States and Asia.

The strategic plan emphasizes the need for common rules that simplify project approval and strengthen investor and public confidence. It also focuses on building a stable supply chain and promoting research to maintain Europe's technological leadership.

The alliance plans pilot projects and test facilities, as well as platforms to bring investors together with concrete projects. The biggest challenge remains financing a technology that is still new and risky.

The plan therefore recommends that states provide guaranteed loans, create public-private partnerships, provide subsidies, and establish more flexible rules for state aid to promote the development of small modular reactors in Europe.

(euractiv, sie)