Author: Power Peak Digest Team Pub Date: February 6, 2025
US-based energy company Westinghouse has proposed installing small modular reactors (SMRs) at four decommissioned nuclear sites in Italy, with construction expected to begin by 2030, according to Reuters.
The four sites—Caorso, Trino, Latina, and Garigliano—would be repurposed for the deployment of SMRs, in alignment with Italy’s strategic energy shift under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, which is considering reviving the nuclear sector. Despite previous referendums in 1987 and 2011 prohibiting nuclear power plants, Italy aims to establish a nuclear strategy by 2027.
The Italian government recognizes the potential of SMRs and advanced modular reactors to aid in the decarbonisation of carbon-intensive industries such as steel, glass, and tile manufacturing. Energy Minister Gilberto Pichetto Fratin confirmed discussions with Westinghouse and EDF regarding potential collaborations to develop advanced nuclear reactors.
In related developments, EDF’s Italian subsidiary Edison has proposed building two advanced nuclear reactors in Italy by 2040. The first reactor is slated for operation by 2035, with the second expected to follow in 2040.
SMR technologies are expected to be ready by 2030, followed by testing phases. In January 2025, EDF, Edison, and the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (Enea) signed a memorandum of understanding to explore SMR adoption in industrial settings. The collaboration will focus on key technical areas such as thermo-hydraulic and passive safety systems, advanced technologies, and combined heat and power generation to meet industrial demands.