Nuclear power helps to solve the "energy equation"

Enel CEO Fulvio Conti, at the International Conference on access to civil nuclear energy

Nuclear power in Italy is not only an opportunity, but is above all a need. The latter was stated by Enel CEO Fulvio Conti, at the International Conference on access to civil nuclear energy, which was held on March 8 and 9 in Paris. The atom produces several benefits, especially considering the challenges connected with the current energy scenario: an increasing demand, the need to ensure a secure supply, the high cost of energy, climate change combat.

Nuclear power helps to solve the "energy equation", which requires increasing amounts of available energy resources, environmentally sustainable and economically competitive. Although the atom by itself is not "the solution", which must also be found in renewables and a sustainable use of fossil fuels, it is also true that there is no solution that can do without this source.

Nuclear energy is a key technology to meet basic energy demand, which is needed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, while respecting economic and environmental sustainability. Stability and a secure supply. This is why 436 reactors are operating with a total capacity of 370,000 MW, this source already covering about 15% of all globally generated electricity. Several countries are undertaking energy policies that are part of a worldwide process of "nuclear renaissance": 53 new nuclear plants are under construction, equivalent to 47,000 MW, while other projects are in the pipeline.

Italy is one of these countries since, after having abandoned the atom in 1987, it is currently engaged in a process of revitalization of this source, the goal being that 25% of 2020electricity needs will be met by using this source.. Enel strongly supports this policy, since costs of nuclear generation are lower than those of other sources and there are no CO2 emissions, this energy is not subject to price volatility like fossil fuels and the uranium market is characterized by a geographical diversification, and is therefore more secure.

Enel has signed an agreement with EDF, within the Italian-French summit held in February 2009, t to build 4 third-generation EPR reactors in Italy. The CEO said that the Enel Group has been operating for several years in nuclear power - now managing a total capacity of about 5,500 MW – and has acquired a sound expertise in four different technologies: VVER (Russian) Slovakia, PWR-Westinghouse (USA) in Spain, CANDU (Canadian) in Romania, EPR in France. Today, nearly 4,000 Enel engineers and technicians, including 60 young engineers working at the Flamanville site in Normandy, are gaining valuable experience for the future development of the Italian nuclear program.

Conti concluded by saying that this path has led Enel to become one of the few global players capable of managing with expertise and experience the main chains pertaining to nuclear technology.