Ten EU member states have formally called on the European Commission to recognize nuclear power as a sustainable energy source specifically for powering artificial intelligence data centers. The move represents a significant shift in how Europe views nuclear energy amid the continent's race to meet surging electricity demands from AI infrastructure.

Why Are EU Countries Pushing for Nuclear Recognition?

The letter, sent by Croatia, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden, targets a new amendment to the EU's Energy Efficiency Directive. This directive establishes rules to promote energy efficiency across the Union and remove barriers in the energy market. The European Commission is planning to add a sustainability label to every data center in the EU, but the draft version does not include nuclear power in its definition of "sustainable".

The ten countries argue that this exclusion violates the principle of technological neutrality. In their letter, they point out that EU officials claimed there was "no political mandate to promote low-carbon energy sources other than renewables for powering data centers." However, the signatories counter that recent statements from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen supporting new nuclear development, combined with the EC's published small and advanced modular reactor roadmap, demonstrate clear political support for nuclear as a clean energy option.

What Makes This Coalition Surprising?

The list of signatories reveals a notable shift in European attitudes toward nuclear energy. France and Sweden have long championed nuclear power, but other names stand out as unexpected. Italy, for instance, has historically opposed new nuclear development and maintained a four-decade moratorium on nuclear power. Yet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has recently called for the country to overturn this ban and invest in new nuclear capacity, signaling a dramatic policy reversal.

This coalition reflects broader recognition across Europe that meeting AI's energy demands requires all available low-carbon technologies. The EC's small and advanced modular reactor roadmap, published in March, dedicates an entire section to using nuclear for data centers and describes it as a key source of "clean energy" and "decarbonized heat and steam".

How Can Nuclear Support AI's Growing Energy Needs?

• Baseload Power: Nuclear provides continuous, reliable electricity 24/7, unlike solar and wind which depend on weather conditions, making it ideal for data centers that require constant power.
• Land Efficiency: Small modular reactors can be deployed in diverse locations with smaller physical footprints than traditional nuclear plants, offering flexibility for distributed data center infrastructure.
• Decarbonization Goals: Nuclear produces zero carbon emissions during operation, helping the EU meet its climate targets while powering the energy-intensive AI systems driving economic growth.
• Heat and Steam Supply: Beyond electricity, nuclear reactors can provide industrial heat and steam for data center cooling systems, improving overall energy efficiency.

The timing of this push is critical. The details of the final amendment are set to be discussed at an EC meeting on June 3, as part of broader discussions of an EU "tech sovereignty package." The European Commission aims to formalize energy labeling for data centers by 2027.

What Broader Trends Support This Nuclear Revival?

The push for nuclear recognition in data center policy reflects a wider reconsideration of nuclear energy across Europe. In 1990, nuclear power accounted for 30 percent of Europe's electricity generation. By 2026, that share has declined to closer to 15 percent. However, recent developments suggest this downward trend may be reversing as countries recognize nuclear's role in supporting both decarbonization and energy security.

Beyond the EU's data center initiative, the maritime and offshore sectors are also exploring nuclear solutions. A new report from ABS, a classification society for the marine industry, highlights how small modular nuclear reactors are among the emerging energy solutions beginning to shape real-world operations across marine and offshore sectors. The report notes that innovation in maritime is moving faster, with technologies like AI, robotics, and advanced sensing capabilities working together in more connected systems.

"Innovation in maritime is moving faster, and the conversation has changed with it. A few years ago, the focus was on what might be possible down the road. Now we are looking at where these technologies are gaining traction, how they work together and what it will take to apply them safely and effectively," said Patrick Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at ABS.

Patrick Ryan, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at ABS

The convergence of AI's energy demands and nuclear technology's potential creates a compelling case for policymakers. As data centers scale to gigawatt levels to support artificial intelligence applications, the need for reliable, low-carbon baseload power has become urgent. The EU's decision on whether to label nuclear as sustainable for data centers could influence similar policy discussions globally and reshape how nations approach the energy infrastructure required for AI deployment.