Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, Fukushima. Should any discussion about nuclear power stop at these names?

Small modular reactors, thorium, molten salt reactors. Discussing nuclear power today also means talking about these and other innovative technologies. More flexible and safer operation, easier, faster and cheaper construction, more efficient use of fuel, fewer and less dangerous wastes, more abundant and more easily sourced fuel: these are some of the potential promises that these new technologies bring with them - but are they enough, or rather a siren-song? And last, nuclear fusion: has the time finally come to bury the old joke that it is always thirty years away?

This STOA workshop will look at innovative nuclear technologies and their potential consequences, from the economics of nuclear power to its role in a future renewables-dominated grid. It will also discuss the key aspect of how these technologies may influence public perceptions of nuclear power. In a world with an urgent need of low-carbon sources of electricity that can complement renewables, what role can be played by nuclear power? After an initial honeymoon period, the last few decades have seen considerable disaffection with nuclear power. Are innovative nuclear technologies enough of a game-changer to alter the balance of the nuclear power equation? This workshop aims to provide objective information to help citizens and decision makers answer this question.

Programme

14:00 - 14:10 Welcome and Introductory remarks

• Pernille WEISS, MEP and member of the Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA)

14:10 - 14:30 Keynote speech

• Bent LAURITZEN, Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark

14:30 - 15:00 Scientific opinions

• Brent WANNER, Head of Power Sector Unit IEA
• Jan PÁNEK, Director for Nuclear energy, safety, and ITER, DG ENER, European Commission
• Sandra PARTHIE, Head of Brussels Office/ Head of European Affairs of the German Economic Institute (IW Köln)
• Anders SCHELDE, Chief Investment Officer AkademikerPension, Denmark
• Knut Ivar KAREVOLD, Director Institute for Climate Psychology, Norway / Associate Professor Sustainability Lab, University of Oslo
• Susana CLEMENT LORENZO, Acting Head of the Broader Approach Programme and Delivery Department in Fusion for Energy (F4E)

15:00 - 15:50 Q&A session

15:50 - 16:00 Closing remarks

• Pernille WEISS, MEP and STOA Panel member

The event will be held in English with interpretation into DE & FR.