Basta on the spot, play tactics, without deciding whether Italy needs nuclear power or not. Let those who want it come forward, because political and cultural hypocrisy only cause damage. By tackling the issue head-on, what could be better than circulating a document at the bottom of which it is placed your signature ( who remains anonymous) and you say which side are you on? A document that if it becomes a winner is worth millions of euros for investments and technical management in the coming years. To get an idea, China is investing more than 400 billions of dollars. The Biden administration has spent $6 billion to keep 93 reactors running. With more nuclear energy, the energy transition is tackled more decisively, protecting Italy from other energy crises. This was roughly the reasoning that led Carlo Calenda e Joseph Zollino to launch the first Italian petition in favor of nuclear energy. They are the promoters of a very clear text to which they immediately joined Roberto Adinolfi, Chairman of Ansaldo Nucleare, Rosa Filippini, director of L'Astrolabio, former President of Friends of the Earth, Antonio Gozzi, President of Duferco and of Federacciai, Head grain, President of AssoAmbiente, Umberto Sgambati, President PROGER and dozens of other managers.
Nuclear power among renewables
A few weeks ago the Chamber passed the motion with which Parliament and the government commit themselves to the construction of power plants in our country as well. Action has seen its proposals approved to get out of the nightmare of fossil energies long time. With the signatures, the government is asked to adopt real initiatives for the diffusion of "nuclear reactors of the best available technologies and of the new ones, both fission and fusion". The aim is to achieve the decarbonization goals with the most sustainable technological mix. But why now? Because by 2050 we will have to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions. A large number of studies show that for this we will have to consume energy more efficiently, but also use more electricity. Electricity will have to be produced with very low or zero emissions. Let us add that science is progressing, that big companies are investing billions, that 10-20 year agreements are being made around the world and the picture becomes clearer. The Italian Fullness of the Eni Group is testing the first fusion power plant in the USA. The project with dozens of engineers engaged is expected to be completed by 2030. If a state-controlled company has taken the road "of the energy of the stars" why should the government oppose the power plants in Italy? Relying only on photovoltaics and wind power is unrealistic and risky, it is written in the petition. They are intermittent and seasonal sources and many plants would be needed to have a balanced energy system. On the other hand, powerful storage batteries are needed "to cope with the many days of the year with little sun and little wind and the lack of night-time production". The nuclear setting leads to the realization of sites completely new which have nothing to do with the old plants abandoned after the 2011 referendum. The plants occupy an area from 400 to 1000 times smaller than those for wind plants and in their life cycle "they have emissions 6 times lower than photovoltaics and half of wind power and require materials from 3,5 to 7 times less than other renewables.
The Problem of Prejudice
The reasons for such a courageous choice as this one of Action discounts, however, fears and suspicions. There are prejudices to fight that are also anti-scientific. Calenda and Zollino, who in addition to being the Energy Manager of Action is a professor of Technology and Energy Economics at the University of Padua, have a ready answer. «The prejudices linked to the safety of the plants they are unfounded. The nuclear power is used effectively in all the most developed countries in the world, with the exception of Germany and, most recently, in the European Green Taxonomy itself, which considers nuclear power on a par with renewable source technologies». What moves will the Meloni government make with respect to the collection of signatures? The petition could be successful among the parties that support Meloni and on the other hand cause divisions on the left. Persisting opposition to the development of technologies and research can give way to other uncertainties or confusions. Moreover, startups are also moving towards nuclear power. The Italian Milena Roveda, was elected at the top of Gauss Fusion, the renewable startup that brings together European companies and investors from Germany, France, Italy and supports nuclear fusion energy.
