The Group of Seven (G7) nations undertook to support the use of nuclear energy in countries that opt for its use, following a two-day Ministerial Meeting on Climate, Energy and Environment in Italy. The G7 includes Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the USA as well as the European Union. The ministerial meeting was in preparation for the G7 summit planned for June.
Support for nuclear, however, is not unanimous within the grouping, with Germany adamantly opposed to its use. Italy's Minister of the Environment and Energy Security, Gilberto Pichetto Fratin told a press conference after the meeting: "When it comes to nuclear energy ... our seven countries indicated in the communique that we will proceed together in order to promote further research and ensure that the conditions are in place to promote the use of nuclear energy, which is a clean form of energy." In an oblique reference to Germany, he added: "This is something that is not binding. Obviously, we are aware that in the G7 there is a country that currently does not want to pursue the development of nuclear energy."
The wide-ranging 35-page communique issued by the ministers contained two small sub-section on nuclear energy and on fusion within the section on Climate and Energy. The G7 press release listed the “main new commitments and programmes that emerged from the meeting” as:
- phasing out fossil fuels, with the first step being to phase out coal;
- encourage the strong growth of renewables through the multiplication of energy storage capacity;
- promote G7 collaboration on fusion energy sector;
- break away from remaining Russian gas imports;
- reduce methane emissions;
- increase the security and sustainability of critical raw materials;
- eliminate non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions;
- create a ‘G7 Hub’ to accelerate actions on adaptation;
- establish a ‘G7 Water Coalition’;
- develop a voluntary agenda on circular textiles and fashion;
- ensure a just transition to clean energy in developing countries, particularly in Africa.
The section on nuclear energy said: “We reaffirm G7 Leaders’ commitment to reduce reliance on civil nuclear-related goods from Russia including promoting a diversified fuel supply chain free from Russian influence and to assist countries seeking to diversify their supply. We note the ongoing efforts by countries which operate Russian designed reactors to make progress in securing alternative nuclear fuel contracts and to reduce dependencies related to spare parts, components and services.”
It underscored “the importance for all countries and their respective people of upholding the highest standards of safety, security, and safeguards and non-proliferation, particularly as more countries adopt nuclear power as part of their energy mix. We emphasise the important role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in this regard.
The communique said: “Those countries that opt to use nuclear energy or support its use recognise its potential as clean/zero-emissions energy source that can reduce dependence on fossil fuels to address the climate crises and improve global energy security. These countries recognise nuclear energy as a source of baseload power, providing grid stability and flexibility, and optimising use of grid capacity, while countries that do not use nuclear energy or do not support its use prefer other options to achieve the same goals, taking into account their assessment of associated risks and costs of nuclear energy.”
It noted “the global declaration to triple global nuclear energy capacity by 2050 launched during COP28 and recognise that for countries that opt to use it nuclear energy will play a role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels, supporting the transition to net-zero and ensuring energy security, while other countries choose other energy sources to achieve these goals.”
It further noted “that advanced reactors and innovative technologies, such as advanced and small modular reactors, including microreactors, and new designs that are under development could bring in the future additional benefits such as improved safety and sustainability, reduced cost of production, reduced project risk, waste management improvement, better social acceptance, opportunities for industry by providing at the same time energy, high temperature heat, hydrogen.”
In this context, the G7 committed to:
- support multilateral efforts to strengthen resilience of nuclear supply chains;
- continue the cooperation for building robust nuclear supply chain in the framework of G7 and of the Nuclear Energy Working Group established in Sapporo;
- for those countries that opt to use nuclear energy or support its use, promote research and development initiatives on innovative nuclear power technologies;
- for those countries that opt to use nuclear energy or support its use, promote the responsible deployment of nuclear energy technologies including for advanced and small modular reactors, including microreactors, and work collectively to share national best practices, including for responsible waste management, enable greater access to project financing tools, support sectorial collaboration, designing licensing procedures and strengthening coordination on development of commercial projects among interested G7 members and third markets.
On Fusion Energy the G7 noted: “We recognise that with future breakthroughs in fusion energy technology it has the potential to provide a lasting solution to the global challenges of climate change and energy security in the future. The successful delivery of fusion energy production could offer major social, environmental, and economic benefits, being a source of potentially zero-emission, safe, secure, virtually unlimited clean energy.”
The communique continued: “The potential of commercialising fusion energy has led to demonstrator facilities being developed over the next decade by Governments and commercial companies in many countries and new international collaborations can help accelerate fusion development and demonstration reinforcing the need for global engagement to resolve research challenges, develop international supply chains and workforces.”
Regulatory approaches “ensuring a high level of safety, proportionate to the hazards of fusion technology and that take into account the innovation of this emerging technology will be crucial to enable the potential for the safe development, deployment, and operation of fusion plants.” A coordinated approach of regulations and their implementation between fusion-forward countries will be sought by international collaborations between Governments including regulators for all fusion plants, taking into account the level of maturity of different designs and stages of development.
“This can provide the fusion sector with the certain level of predictability and confidence it needs. Industry also has to engage collaboration in the field of research and development. Fusion has always been an international endeavour and strong connections between countries in research and development will be necessary to overcome the remaining technical challenges of fusion and accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. We welcome the ongoing engagement of IAEA and its member states in fusion energy.”
In this context, the G7 committed to:
- promote international collaborations to accelerate the development and demonstration of fusion plants encouraging the rise in private investments and public engagement to resolve research challenges and develop international supply chains and workforces;
- establish a G7 Working Group on Fusion Energy to share best practices and explore areas of mutual cooperation between countries with the aim of strengthening research and development cooperation between countries;
- establish a G7 exchange to promote consistent approaches to fusion regulations, where appropriate.
Image: Ministers from each country come together at the G7 climate, energy and environment ministers meeting in Turin, Italy
