However, the exact date when this large giant will start providing power to France's electrical grid is uncertain. The construction is ten years behind schedule and costs have exceeded the budget by 12 billion euros. The plans to begin operations this year have been delayed once again, now aiming for 2024. Similar issues are also being faced at Finland's latest nuclear power plant, which began operating last month after initial plans for completion in 2009. As President Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine prompt Europe to reduce its reliance on Russian natural gas and oil, nuclear power is gaining importance as a source of domestic energy and stable electricity. Advocates argue that nuclear energy could help address Europe's impending energy crisis, alongside a shift towards renewable technologies such as solar and wind power to meet climate change targets. The conflict in Ukraine has reshaped Europe's energy security priorities, with concerns that nuclear power may decline due to increased energy insecurity. However, there are challenges in implementing a nuclear revival, as Europe is divided over the issue, with pro-nuclear countries like France pushing for expansion while others, like Germany, are opposed due to concerns about radioactive waste. A recent strategy from the European Commission aimed at reducing reliance on Russia did not include nuclear power as a potential energy source. The challenges faced by the Flamanville-3 project, including delays and cost overruns, are indicative of the broader issues associated with expanding nuclear power. Despite a quarter of the EU's electricity coming from nuclear power, the aging fleet was mostly built in the 1980s. France, which has 56 reactors, is the largest producer. Plans for up to 13 new-generation nuclear reactors in France, using a different design from Flamanville, will not be operational until at least 2035, too late to address the current energy crisis. Britain has plans for up to eight new nuclear plants, but the reality is less optimistic. Five of the current six reactors are set to be retired within the next ten years due to age. Only one new nuclear station, being constructed in southwest England at a cost of 20 billion pounds, is currently underway. It is expected to be operational by 2026. Other projects in Eastern Europe are not expected to be completed until after 2030, as nuclear projects typically take a minimum of ten years to finish. Jonathan Stern, a senior research fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, acknowledges that nuclear energy projects will take a significant amount of time to complete. "The major issue is moving away from dependence on Russian gas, and this issue needs to be addressed now rather than in the future. Advocates believe that nuclear power could be a solution if there is political support. In response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, Belgium's government, in collaboration with the Green party, decided to extend the life of two nuclear reactors for another ten years instead of phasing out nuclear energy by 2025. This decision will help Belgium reduce its reliance on Russian gas while also 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 was a turning point that led to the government's change of direction." "We aimed to decrease our imports from Russia." However, in Germany, which relies more heavily on Russian gas and coal than any other European country, the suggestion of using nuclear power to address an energy shortage does not seem to be gaining traction. Germany is set to shut down its last three nuclear plants by the end of the year, marking the end of a plan approved by lawmakers to phase out the country's 17 reactors following the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011. While two of Germany's major energy companies are open to postponing the closures to reduce the nation's dependence on Russia, the Green party, part of Berlin's governing coalition, has ruled out keeping the plants open, let alone reopening the three nuclear stations that closed in December. Chancellor Olaf Scholz stated in parliament that they had decided for valid reasons to phase out nuclear power and that delaying Germany's nuclear exit was not a favorable plan. Even in countries where nuclear power is seen as a viable option, there are numerous obstacles to overcome. Mark Hibbs, a nuclear expert at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, stated that President Emmanuel Macron's plans for a nuclear power renaissance in France will not happen quickly. The estimated cost of this plan is 50 billion euros ($57 billion), which is a significant amount that other European countries may not be willing or able to afford. Additionally, the industry needs to train a new generation of nuclear power engineers, which will further slow down the process. Other technologies are advancing rapidly and becoming cheaper, while nuclear power is not progressing and becoming more expensive. Aging reactors in France have been paused for safety inspections, making it difficult for French nuclear power to alleviate a Russian energy shortage, according to Anne-Sophie Corbeau of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University. She stated that nuclear production in France will decrease this year unless a solution is found, but there is no easy fix. However, Moscow's aggression could potentially help reverse the industry's decline. Recent announcements have shown a positive trend, such as Britain planning to expand its nuclear capacity and the Netherlands planning to build more 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 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The Oregon-based company NuScale Power has signed preliminary deals in Romania and Poland for their new reactor design, which they claim will be more cost-effective and faster to build due to assembling key components in factories. The invasion of Russia has increased interest from customers in considering nuclear energy as part of their overall energy mix, according to Tom Mundy, the company's chief commercial officer. Nuclearelectrica, the Romanian power company, is moving forward with plans for a NuScale plant and two Canadian reactors to enhance their energy security in light of the Ukraine crisis, said CEO Cosmin Ghita. Analyst Meike Becker from Bernstein research firm believes that in the long term, Russia's war will likely support the European goal of achieving greater energy independence. Text = The New York Times Company holds the copyright for the year 2022.