Germany has ended nuclear power, while a number of European countries plan new reactors

After Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine last February, a number of European countries put off their planned phase-out of nuclear power, and some are even planning to build new reactors. France has traditionally been a strong supporter of nuclear power and plans to build at least six new reactors and extend the operating lives of older ones. Hungary, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden have also decided to build new reactors, while the Czech Republic and Slovakia are planning to do so. In April this year, Finland began regular electricity production at Olkiluoto 3 (OL3), the largest nuclear reactor in Europe.

Poland’s environmental authority today issued a permit to build the country’s first nuclear power plant, the environment minister announced. Poland plans to build the plant on the Baltic Sea coast. Germany, by contrast, shut down its last three nuclear power plants this year, while Austria has traditionally opposed nuclear power.