The exact date when this large power plant will start providing electricity to France is unknown. The construction is delayed by ten years and has exceeded the budget by 12 billion euros. The initial plans to commence operations this year have been postponed until 2024. Similar issues have been experienced at other nuclear power plants, such as Finland's newest plant, which was expected to be finished in 2009. President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine have prompted Europe to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas and oil, leading to a resurgence in nuclear power as a source of homegrown energy and reliable electricity. Advocates believe that nuclear energy could help address Europe's upcoming power shortages, alongside a shift towards solar, wind, and other renewable technologies to meet climate change goals. However, the push for nuclear power is facing opposition in Europe, with pro-nuclear countries like France advocating for an expansion while Germany and others express concerns about the risks associated with radioactive waste. The recent European Commission plan to decrease reliance on Russia did not include nuclear power as a potential energy source to be considered. The challenges faced by the Flamanville-3 project, including delays and cost overruns, are indicative of the broader technical, logistical, and cost issues surrounding nuclear power expansion. Currently, a significant portion of the electricity in the European Union comes from nuclear power, generated by aging reactors mostly constructed in the 1980s. France, home to 56 reactors, contributes over half of this total. Plans for up to 13 new-generation nuclear reactors in France, with a different design than Flamanville-3, are not expected to be operational until at least 2035, making them ineffective in addressing the current energy crisis. Britain has announced plans for up to eight new nuclear plants, but the reality is less optimistic. Five of the six existing British reactors are set to be retired within ten years due to their age. Only one new nuclear station is currently under construction in southwest England, with a completion date of 2026. Other projects in Eastern Europe are not expected to be operational until after 2030. According to Jonathan Stern of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, nuclear projects typically take at least a decade to complete. He stated that the main issue is decreasing dependency on Russian gas, which needs to be addressed now rather than in the future. Advocates believe that nuclear power could be a viable solution with the right political support. As Russia increased its aggression towards Ukraine, Belgium's government, in collaboration with the Green party, decided to extend the life of two nuclear reactors and postpone the phase-out of nuclear energy until 2025. This decision will help Belgium reduce its reliance on Russian gas while expanding renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power to meet European climate targets by 2035. Belgium's energy minister, Tinne Van der Straeten, stated that the invasion of Ukraine had a significant impact and led to a reversal in the government's stance on nuclear energy. In an effort to reduce imports from Russia, Germany, which heavily relies on Russian gas and coal, is facing challenges in considering nuclear power as an alternative energy source. The country is set to close its last three nuclear plants by the end of the year as part of a phased program initiated after the Fukushima disaster in 2011. Despite some energy companies being open to postponing the shutdown to decrease reliance on Russia, the Green party, part of the governing coalition, is against operating or reopening nuclear stations. Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated that Germany is committed to phasing out nuclear power and delaying the exit is not a viable option. However, even in countries where nuclear power is considered a valuable option, there are numerous obstacles to overcome. Mark Hibbs, a nuclear expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a research organization, stated that President Emmanuel Macron's plans for a nuclear power renaissance in France will not happen quickly. The cost of implementing these plans is estimated to be 50 billion euros ($57 billion), a price that other European countries may be unwilling or unable to afford. Additionally, the industry will need to train a new generation of nuclear power engineers, further delaying the process. Other technologies are advancing rapidly and becoming more affordable, while nuclear power is not progressing and becoming more costly. Many of France's aging reactors, built in response to the 1970s oil crisis, are currently undergoing safety inspections, making it challenging for French nuclear power to assist with a Russian energy shortage. Anne-Sophie Corbeau from the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University emphasized these challenges. She stated that nuclear production will decrease in France this year unless a miraculous solution is found, although there is no such solution. However, Moscow's aggression may potentially reverse the industry's decline. There have been optimistic announcements recently, including Britain's decision to increase its nuclear capacity and the Netherlands' plan to build two additional reactors alongside other renewable energy sources. In Eastern Europe, countries near Russia have been making plans to build nuclear reactors, a decision that now seems wise given Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Oregon company NuScale Power is promoting a new reactor design that they claim will be more cost-effective and quicker to build due to components being assembled in factories. They have secured preliminary deals in Romania and Poland, with the invasion in Russia reinforcing the idea of nuclear energy being part of the energy mix. Nuclearelectrica, the Romanian power company, is moving forward with NuScale and Canadian reactor projects to enhance energy security following the Ukraine crisis. Analysts believe that Russia's war may ultimately lead to greater energy independence in Europe. Text = © 2022 The New York Times Company.