The EU at a crossroads: nuclear power or renewable energies?
On 5 December 2025 the City of Vienna published an explosive press release that casts European energy policy in a new light. Jürgen Czernohorszky, Vienna's committed City Councillor for Climate, issues a stern warning about the EU's plans to rely on Small Modular Reactors (SMR). These small modular reactors are being touted as saviors of the nuclear industry, but is this confidence really justified?
What are Small Modular Reactors?
Small Modular Reactors, or SMRs for short, are a new type of nuclear reactor that are smaller and modular in construction than conventional nuclear power plants. They are intended to be more flexible in use and easier to build. Yet despite the appealing advantages, to date there is no commercial SMR that is successfully in operation.
According to the City of Vienna's press release, all previous attempts to establish SMRs have failed due to technical and economic problems. Czernohorszky emphasizes: "For decades small reactors have been presented as supposed saviors. But the reality looks different."
An unrealistic goal for 2050?
The European Commission has set ambitious climate targets: by 2050 CO2 emissions are to be drastically reduced. Part of the plan is the development of an SMR sector. But experts are skeptical. The necessary technical developments and the lengthy approval procedures by nuclear regulatory authorities make widescale production by 2050 virtually impossible.
Norbert Hörmayer, deputy Vienna environmental ombudsman, explains: "To achieve the economic viability of SMRs, hundreds of these reactors would have to be built in Europe. Many of them near residential areas, which represents an enormous safety risk."
Safety concerns
A study by the Vienna Environmental Ombudsman's office has identified numerous problems in current SMR projects. Proximity to residential areas and uncertainty about long-term safety are just some of the concerns. These risks make the EU's SMR strategy a dangerous gamble with an uncertain outcome.
The alternative: renewable energy
While nuclear power continues to struggle with problems, renewable energy sources like wind power and photovoltaics are experiencing a boom. In 2024 alone, 80 gigawatts of new capacity were installed in the EU. In total there are now 850 gigawatts of green energy, compared with only 100 gigawatts in the nuclear sector.
"We must continue to promote the development of renewable energy," demands Czernohorszky. "Investments in nuclear power tie up funds that we urgently need for the energy transition."
Austria's pioneering role
Austria decided early on against nuclear power and instead relies on renewable energies. This path has proven successful and could serve as a model for other European countries.
The expansion of wind and solar energy has led to a stable and environmentally friendly energy supply in Austria. Prices for these technologies have fallen significantly thanks to technological advances and mass production.
The political pressure on the EU
The discussion about the future of Europe's energy supply is also being intensively held at the political level. Vienna's critical stance towards the EU's SMR strategy could increase pressure on the Commission to consider alternative solutions.
"The EU must decide whether it will continue to rely on risky nuclear technologies or take the path to a green future," Czernohorszky concluded.
A look into the future
The coming years will be crucial for European energy policy. Will renewable energies prevail, or will nuclear power make a comeback? The answer to this question will not only significantly influence Europe's energy supply but also global climate policy.
Developments in Vienna and the critical voices from Austria could be a wake-up call for European politics. It remains to be seen how the European Commission will respond to the growing pressure and which direction it will ultimately take.
