Activities of Franc BOGOVIČ related to 2023/2109(INI)
Plenary speeches (2)
Small modular reactors (debate)
Small modular reactors (debate)
Reports (1)
REPORT on small modular reactors
Amendments (78)
Amendment 1 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 a (new)
Citation 24 a (new)
– having regard to the Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC) (COM(2017) 237 final) released in May 2017,
Amendment 2 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 b (new)
Citation 24 b (new)
– having regard to the conclusions of the European Nuclear Energy Forum in 2022 which highlights the contribution of nuclear energy for the security of supply of the EU and in the fight against climate change,
Amendment 3 #
Motion for a resolution
Citation 24 c (new)
Citation 24 c (new)
– having regard to the Nuclear Alliance’s joint statement of 16 May 2023,
Amendment 17 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B
Recital B
B. whereas the EUuropean Union must mitigate its own risks of external dependence in terms of energy supplies, as well as with regard to energy resources and components of the supply chain of energy systems, especially since Russian war against Ukraine has shown the European vulnerability in this sphere;
Amendment 21 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B a (new)
Recital B a (new)
Amendment 26 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital B b (new)
Recital B b (new)
Bb. whereas nuclear power is a zero- emission clean energy source, which has the potential to significantly contribute to the EU's climate goals;
Amendment 33 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
Recital C
C. whereas the innovative developments in nuclear power technology, particularly sSmall mModular rReactors (SMRs), represent a promising pathway towards achieving the Union’'s energy and climate objectives and offer considerable opportunities in terms of electricity production, heat for industrial heatprocesses and district heating and cooling, hydrogen generation, and district hewater desalinationg;
Amendment 38 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C a (new)
Recital C a (new)
Ca. whereas, Small modular reactors (SMRs) are nuclear reactors in a range of power typically between 10 and 300 MW, and designed to be built in factories in a standardised modular form;
Amendment 39 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C b (new)
Recital C b (new)
Cb. whereas many of the benefits of SMRs are inherently linked to the nature of their design (small and modular): integral designs, inherent safety, lower core inventories, improved modularisation and manufacturability, enhanced flexibility; moreover they offer savings in cost and construction time, and they can be deployed incrementally to match increasing energy demand;
Amendment 41 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C c (new)
Recital C c (new)
Cc. whereas specific climate and energy dialogues on SMRs could promote best practices and solutions, bring new business and collaboration opportunities and help Member States identify and reflect on possible gaps to implementation; whereas such dialogues can contribute to building the SMR business model further and present solutions to decarbonise the industry;
Amendment 42 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital C d (new)
Recital C d (new)
Cd. whereas further EU efforts should be made to evaluate and capture the future contributions of SMRs to the EU's power system reliability;
Amendment 44 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
Recital D
D. whereas SMRs offer a lower initial capital investment, greater scalability and siting flexibility for locations unable to accommodate more traditional larger reactors, and now have the potential for einhancederent safety and security compared to earlier designfeatures, while benefiting from feedback from existing large power reactors, as well as for a more sustainable waste management offered by some technologies;
Amendment 53 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
Recital E a (new)
Ea. whereas to successfully commercialise SMRs in the next decade, Europe and its Member States will have to start proactively planning today; whereas investments will have to stepped up now if SMRs are to have a role in Europe’s decarbonisation;
Amendment 54 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
Recital E b (new)
Eb. whereas there is a growing interest for deploying SMR in the EU, involvement of fuel cycle actors should be considered since the early stage of the project;
Amendment 59 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
Recital G a (new)
Ga. whereas the Nuclear Alliance in its declaration on May 16, 2023, recognised that nuclear, including SMRs, could contribute up to 150 GW of electricity capacity by 2050, with the aim of maintaining the current 25% share of electricity production in the EU;
Amendment 62 #
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
Recital G b (new)
Gb. whereas the deployment of SMR can largely contribute to the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries;
Amendment 65 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
Paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Acknowledges that the climate crisis is too complex a challenge, and the stakes too high to limit the tools to solve it; believes that the EU should focus on a range of solutions, including low-carbon energy supplies, to amplify its chances to reaching net zero by 2050;
Amendment 66 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 2
Paragraph 2
2. Underlines the potential of nuclear power and SMRs in contributing to the EU’s clean energy goalto provide the EU with a reliable and on-demand supply of electricity while achieving the goal of net zero; recognises the need for continued research and development in this area to ensure the safety, efficiency, and cost- effectiveness of these technologies;
Amendment 82 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
Paragraph 3
3. Calls for the development of a comprehensive strategy for the deployment of SMRs in the EU, taking into account the specific needs and circumstances of different regions and sectors; Believes that such a strategy should pave the way to establishing clear guidelines for planning, permitting and timelines, regulation and safety; Urges the European Commission to fast track this Strategy with ambition and determination before the end of this legislative term, while respecting Member States right to choose their own energy mix;
Amendment 90 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4 a (new)
Paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. Encourages the Commission and Member States to promote public awareness and understanding of the benefits of nuclear power and SMRs, and to ensure transparent and inclusive decision-making processes in this area;
Amendment 92 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 5
Paragraph 5
5. Acknowledges that SMRs have the potential to play a significant role in replacing fossil fuels17 decarbonising European industry, having the potential to provide a firm baseload of clean electricity, heat and steam for industry and households, as well as replacing fossil fuels17 as the baseload technology in Europe, especially by coal fired station retrofitting; _________________ 17 https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/Europ eanSMRPrePartnership.
Amendment 99 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 6
Paragraph 6
6. Encourages the use of SMRs for low-carbon hydrogen production, both for its direct use in industry and for the production of sustainable synthetic fuels, as global hydrogen demand is expected to massively expand by 2050; Reminds that vast amounts of new electricity capacity is needed to ensure the required scale of hydrogen production to decarbonize European industry; Calls for all decarbonized energy carriers to be treated equally based on their carbon footprint;
Amendment 106 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
Paragraph 7
7. Recognises the potential role of SMRs for iheat andu strial heatm production for industrial processes;
Amendment 110 #
8. Acknowledges the potential of SMRs for district heating and cooling; Reminds that heating and cooling constitute approximately half of all EU energy consumption, and majority of this is still covered by fossil fuels; Acknowledges that SMRs can provide decarbonized, low temperature heat to the district heating systems; Notes that SMRs can be designed to produce only heat and therefore operated at lower temperature and pressure;
Amendment 116 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 a (new)
Paragraph 8 a (new)
8a. Acknowledges the potential of SMRs for water desalination;
Amendment 118 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 b (new)
Paragraph 8 b (new)
8b. Recognises the potential role of SMRs for electrical production increment and grid stabilisation in the context of renewable energy penetration;
Amendment 120 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 c (new)
Paragraph 8 c (new)
8c. Emphasises that the internal competition around SMR is intense with strong political and commercial initiatives already launched;
Amendment 121 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8 d (new)
Paragraph 8 d (new)
8d. Notes that the contribution of SMRs to the European energy independence is highly dependent on the location of their value chain on European territory;
Amendment 125 #
9. Emphasises that so far, no SMRs have been commercially operated in the worldare operational only in Russia and China, but that more than 80 SMR designs are currently at different stages of development and deployment in 18 countries; stresses that the EU should therefore not get left behmaintaind in the global race forts technological leadership in the future SMR market;
Amendment 126 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
Paragraph 10
10. Emphasises that the European nuclear sector is a strong assetkey asset for the resilience of the European energy system and recognises that the EU already has a high degree of expertise and experience in nuclear technologies that can be applied to the development and deployment of SMRs, in particular in the fuel cycle, with a supply chain that could generate most of the added value within Europe;
Amendment 130 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10 a (new)
Paragraph 10 a (new)
10a. Emphasises that nuclear power production is strategic to achieve the energy transition under the right conditions, furthermore SMRs could also create additional industrial opportunities beyond the traditional nuclear sector and could open perspective for new players to enter the nuclear supply chain, and strengthen EU competitiveness, like the shipyards or manufacturing industry;
Amendment 135 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11
Paragraph 11
11. Recognises that a growing number of Member States are considering nuclear for their energy mix, hence the need to coordinate efforts, and the opportunity for these Member States to jointly develop a European SMR;
Amendment 137 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 a (new)
Paragraph 11 a (new)
11a. Notes that the European action plan signed by the Nuclear Alliance acknowledges that nuclear power may provide up to 150 GW of electricity capacity by 2050 thanks to the continued operation of existing plants, the construction of new large reactors and the development of SMRs in the EU;
Amendment 139 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 11 b (new)
Paragraph 11 b (new)
11b. Notes that the Nuclear Alliance asked the European Commission to actively support the pre-partnership on SMR and bring it to a full partnership;
Amendment 154 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
Paragraph 14
14. Recognises that a basic condition for SMRs to develop in the EU is to ensure that a technology-neutral conducive policy and long-term regulatory framework is in place, particularly in the field of competition, energy market and safety;
Amendment 158 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 a (new)
Paragraph 14 a (new)
14a. Calls on the Commission and Member States to recognize nuclear and SMR as a strategic clean technology for a successful transition;
Amendment 159 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14 b (new)
Paragraph 14 b (new)
14b. Emphasises that the development of the know-how of the nuclear industry, an adequate regulatory framework, and supportive public policies are necessary to foster the development of SMRs;
Amendment 161 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 15
Paragraph 15
15. Recognises that the implementation of appropriate contractual and financial mechanisms is needed to provide long-term predictability; such as bilateral long-term contracts, contracts for difference (CFD), resource accounting and budgeting (RAB) and power purchase agreements (PPAs) is needed to provide long-term predictability of revenues on energy markets and to foster investments in SMR;
Amendment 167 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
Paragraph 16
16. Calls on the Commission to launch a specific industrial strategy for SMRs, that includes a focus on efficient permitting procedures, access to finance and stable supply chains, all aiming to enable the deployment of EU domestic SMR technologies and develop a framework for the international commercial promotion of SMRs;
Amendment 176 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16 a (new)
Paragraph 16 a (new)
16a. Recognises that the work stream needs to work on characterisation of the European and non-European export markets, by examining i) decarbonisation needs; ii) the services likely to be provided by SMR; iii) the competitiveness of the technology; iv) the potential applications of SMR (heat, hydrogen, desalination);
Amendment 178 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17
Paragraph 17
17. Emphasises thate importance of proactive anticipation, innovation and adaptation will be key toto effectively meet SMR designers’ expectations in terms of fuel cycle and waste management; This includes recognizing the necessity for preparatory work to ensure the operational readiness of specific front-end fuel cycle requirements prior to the deployment of SMRs;
Amendment 179 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 17 a (new)
Paragraph 17 a (new)
17a. Emphasises that decisions on front-end as well as back-end issues should be taken early in the development phase, with the active involvement of the fuel cycle industry to optimise and validate new concepts, with a view on life- cycle operating costs and long-term security of supply as well as spent fuel and radioactive waste management programs. This early involvement of fuel cycle players is key to enable an easier and faster commercial deployment;
Amendment 189 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 6
Subheading 6
Amendment 193 #
19. RecognEmphasises that the business model of SMR producers will rely on the series effect of building a large number of similar SMRs in different countries; notes that design standardisation is key to unlocking the competitive advantages of mass productionkey success factor of SMRs is serial production, which would allow manufacturers to improve their processes and reduce costs;
Amendment 199 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
Paragraph 20
20. Emphasises the need to identify the elements for establishing a European pre-licensing procesCalls for the acceleration of the cooperation of national nuclear safety regulators to harmonise a pre-licensing process and standardisation of SMR designs based on commonly accepted safety assessments in the licensing of the same SMR design;
Amendment 202 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Paragraph 20 a (new)
Amendment 203 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
Paragraph 21
21. Emphasises thatncourages regulatory bodies shouldto continue createing the conditions to ease the licensing process of SMRsand work towards streamlining and harmonisation of the licensing process of SMRs in the Union; Believes that it is in the EU’s strategic interest to encourage national regulators to adopt technology- inclusive, performance-based, and risk- informed licensing processes to streamline safety assessments, reduce regulatory burdens, enhance safety, lower costs, and facilitate innovation;
Amendment 215 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
Paragraph 22
22. Recognises the need to sufficiently explore and identify all possible options for financing European SMR production and scale-up;
Amendment 218 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22 a (new)
Paragraph 22 a (new)
22a. Emphasises that the domestic production of SMRs could be facilitated by numerous levers such as private investments, national subsidies, European funds, and European Investment Bank loans;
Amendment 223 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 23
Paragraph 23
23. Expresses the need to place SMRs and nuclear energy among the technologies recognised by the Net Zero Industry Act;
Amendment 227 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
Paragraph 24
24. Welcomes the fact that the Euratom research and training programme already funds research projects related to the safety and licensing of SMR technologies; emphasises, however, that more coordinated funding is neededurgently needed if EU wants to remain competitive in developing the SMR industry;
Amendment 230 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24 a (new)
Paragraph 24 a (new)
24a. Recommends the establishment of inclusive access to EU funding beyond Euratom funds, thus allowing the nuclear sector to participate in broader EU funding initiatives it is currently excluded from;
Amendment 235 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
Paragraph 25
25. Calls for the establishment of a dedicated European structure for SMRs such as a new jJoint uUndertaking or Industrial Alliance for SMRs;
Amendment 238 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 a (new)
Paragraph 25 a (new)
25a. Believes that such Joint Undertaking or Industrial Alliance on SMRs should prepare and coordinate a comprehensive programme of activities also for the construction of an Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program for SMRs;
Amendment 240 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 b (new)
Paragraph 25 b (new)
25b. Emphasises that European financial support is also needed to launch feasibility studies or lead to significant job creation and promote high-quality traineeships and the reskilling or upskilling of workers;
Amendment 241 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25 c (new)
Paragraph 25 c (new)
25c. Asks the Commission to clarify the yearly budget available for research, innovation, development and deployment of SMRs and prepare a road map of planned auctions and, where appropriate, make a legislative proposal for a financial instrument targeting and encouraging also private investments in this field;
Amendment 242 #
25d. Expresses concerns about the overall budget for SMRs compared to the subsidies given by economic partners and competitors, in particular China, Russia and the USA; encourages the Commission to expand the share of the Innovation Fund and use the midterm review of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) to increase the resources allocated for the development and deployment of SMRs if needed;
Amendment 244 #
Motion for a resolution
Subheading 8
Subheading 8
Supply chain and fuel cycle adaptation
Amendment 247 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26
Paragraph 26
26. Emphasises that a robust, capable and reliable EU-based supply chain is critical for the success of mass-produced SMRs;
Amendment 250 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 26 a (new)
Paragraph 26 a (new)
26a. Calls on the European Commission to carry out an EU-wide assessment to identify potential shortfalls in the supply chain;
Amendment 252 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27
Paragraph 27
27. Recognises the importance of identifying the main challenges in adapting the value chain to the specific characteristics of SMRs compared with high-powerlarge reactors and the need for consultations both with vendors and a large number of EU-based supply chain suppliers;
Amendment 256 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
Paragraph 27 a (new)
27a. Acknowledges both the adaptations needed in the fuel cycle to supply SMR, and the investments needs for additional facilities;
Amendment 258 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 b (new)
Paragraph 27 b (new)
27b. Encourages the efforts of the European industry to secure the supply of the new types of fuels needed for some SMRs;
Amendment 261 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 c (new)
Paragraph 27 c (new)
27c. Notes that European strategy and reflection are needed specifically on the plants in which SMRs will be manufactured;
Amendment 262 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 d (new)
Paragraph 27 d (new)
27d. Emphasises that the opportunity of including standardised equipment and high quality industrial commercial grade components within SMR designs can greatly contribute to supply chain optimisation and associated processes by reducing regulatory controls and approval times;
Amendment 264 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 a (new)
Paragraph 28 a (new)
28a. Welcomes that in collaboration with the Joint Research Centre (JRC), the Euratom community is opening up EU research infrastructures and supporting access to unique nuclear research infrastructures in Europe;
Amendment 265 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 b (new)
Paragraph 28 b (new)
28b. Emphasises that to maintain the highest safety and radiation protection standards, it is crucial to keep the need for experimenting, testing and qualifying novel fuels, materials and technologies for the whole lifecycle of advanced SMRs, training and human capacity-building, disseminating knowledge and bridging the gap between research and industry;
Amendment 266 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28 c (new)
Paragraph 28 c (new)
28c. Welcomes the Horizon Europe and Digital Europe Programme initiatives that bring new benefits in additive manufacturing, digital technologies, robotics and artificial intelligence and emphasises that synergies between the Euratom Programme and other EU Programmes should be implemented;
Amendment 270 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Paragraph 29 a (new)
Amendment 274 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31
Paragraph 31
31. Recognises the need to developimportance of refining existing training in key nuclear construction skills to align them with the unique requirements of SMRs, while also ensuring the prevention of skill shortages in areas under high demand;
Amendment 283 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 31 a (new)
Paragraph 31 a (new)
31a. Underlines the importance of strategic workforce planning;
Amendment 287 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32
Paragraph 32
32. Recognises the need to provide uniformalready well established rules regarding the responsibility of SMRNuclear Power Plant owners for the safe handling and storage of radioactive waste, as well as for the recycling of spent nuclear fuel;
Amendment 293 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 a (new)
Paragraph 32 a (new)
32a. Notes the potential of some type of SMRs in terms of waste minimisation (reduction of volume and radiotoxicity of waste);
Amendment 294 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 b (new)
Paragraph 32 b (new)
32b. Calls for the establishment of a specific strategy on closing the nuclear fuel cycle based on innovative technologies developers' support;
Amendment 295 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 32 c (new)
Paragraph 32 c (new)
32c. Reminds, that according to the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, for high-level radioactive waste and spent fuel, there is a broad consensus amongst the scientific, technological and regulatory communities that final disposal in deep geological repositories is the most effective and safest feasible solution which can ensure that no significant harm is caused to human life and the environment for the required timespan; acknowledges that some Member States are in an advanced stage of implementation of their national deep geological disposal facilities, which are expected to start operation within the present decade;
Amendment 296 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33
Paragraph 33
33. Stresses the need for an annual report by the Commission assessing progress in the development of SMRs; Asks that this report also evaluate the geographical breakdown of funding, the number of jobs created, changes in supply and demand, the cost of SMRs deployment, the development of dedicated SMRs infrastructures and evaluates the technical feasibility, licensing, siting, financing, supply chain, engagement, and fuel progress from different SMR reactors;
Amendment 300 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 33 a (new)
Paragraph 33 a (new)
33a. Calls on the Commission to eagerly engage and the development of SMRs projects and especially prepare a legal framework regarding the technology choice, revisiting and harmonising licensing frameworks, and other legal challenges;
Amendment 302 #
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 34
Paragraph 34
34. Calls on the Council to demonstrate a firmMember States with a strong interest in nuclear and SMRs to demonstrate a firm financial and regulatory commitment to contributing to the successful development of SMRs in the EU;