“Nuclear is back for good.” The first day of the NNF26 was opened with this strong message by Sari Multala, Finland’s Minister of Climate and the Environment. As Europe accelerates its transition toward secure, affordable, and fossil-free energy, nuclear power is once again taking center stage. With her insightful speech Multala was setting the tone for a day of high-level discussions and strong momentum across the sector. Let’s take a look for some more highlights of the day.
EUROPE IS MOVING TOWARD A NUCLEAR REVIVAL
The opening session continued with a panel discussion with government officials where the panelists aligned on one clear priority: cut the regulatory friction and unlock large-scale nuclear deployment as a cornerstone of energy security, industrial competitiveness, and the clean energy transition. Lutz Reimers from German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy, (the first German official at the Nordic Nuclear Forum) highlighted that German industry will play a role in SMR development regardless of national policy on new nuclear builds, alongside continued support for nuclear research. This stood out as a clear signal of a more pragmatic, industry-led shift in Europe’s nuclear landscape.
The opening session was closed by the Swedish Energy Minister, Ebba Busch, who welcomed participants to Stockholm, stating that nuclear power is no longer a niche topic but a cornerstone of a stable future energy system. The key message was strong, Sweden is entering a new nuclear era, moving from closing plants to facilitating a new nuclear programme. Busch also stressed the importance of energy independence by saying: “Without energy, there is no industry. Without industry, there is no defense. Without defense, there is no sovereignty.”
In the session “Nuclear Energy for a Secure North”, Petteri Tiippana, Director General of the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, spoke about fundamental changes in the operating environment for nuclear power. The next era of nuclear development requires agile, transparent, and predictable regulation to keep pace with rising geopolitical pressures, growing industry interest, and increasing technological complexity. “Predictability does not mean predefined outcomes. It means clarity, consistency and transparency in regulatory processes.”, he stated.
BUILDING MOMENTUM, STRENGTHENING COOPERATION, AND ADVANCING EXPERTISE
The momentum in Swedish nuclear is building fast. Earlier this week, Studsvik and its subsidiary Kärnfull Next submitted an application to the Swedish state for a 600–1400 MW nuclear build-out at their site. “The demand for more electricity production will come!” Karl Thedéen, CEO of Studsvik AB, stated. The demand is not yet here, but when it comes, the new nuclear power plants will be ready.
The panel discussion “Beyond Design Life” highlighted that extending the lifetime of existing nuclear power plants is essential for Europe’s energy future, but it requires predictable regulation, strong technical planning, stable market conditions, and sustained industry expertise to succeed. When the session’s moderator Harri Varjonen, Executive Director at FinNuclear Association, asked the panelists to give their perspectives on challenges related to LTO, Philippe Bordarier, President and CEO at TVO, mentioned the need of keeping and rebuilding know-how. Anni Jaarinen, Vice President of Nuclear Services at Fortum, spoke about the challenges stemming from interface issues when many projects are carried out simultaneously, thus calling for system-level decision making. Daniel Nordgren, Vice President of Fleet Development, Business Area Generation at Vattenfall AB, echoed Mr. Bordarier sentiment regarding the risk of unexpected regulatory changes suddenly causing major issues. Johan Svenningsson, CEO at Uniper Sweden, expanded on the strategic considerations involved in LTO investments.
In the last session of the day “Closing The Circle” Åsa Carlson, Managing Director at Barsebäck Kraft AB, stressed the importance of defining the end state from day one as well as retaining plant expertise throughout decommissioning. “We are not just managing waste – we are managing a long-term societal trust.”, added Delphine Servot, Managing Director of Cyclife Sweden. Erika Holt, Technical Lead at VTT, concluded the session by speaking about SMR waste management. She emphasized the importance of understanding and taking responsibility for future waste, not least to maintain public trust – but also to save costs and environmental burdens.
In summary, Day 1 of NNF26 set a clear direction for Europe’s nuclear future: a renewed political commitment to nuclear energy, a strong push for regulatory simplification, and growing recognition of nuclear energy as critical infrastructure for energy security and sovereignty. The day closed on a forward-looking note: success will depend on predictability, collaboration, and long-term responsibility from design to decommissioning.
Highlights by
Elias Moberg, OKG
Simon Sjögren, Riskpilot
Roosa Ahola, FinNuclear Association
Photo credits
Nordic Nuclear Forum/Lars-Åke Petersson
