Europe is executing a strategic shift, betting on nuclear energy after years of distancing itself. The European Commission allocates 200 million euros to develop Small Modular Reactors (SMR), a technology still in the pre-commercial phase. This move, led by Ursula von der Leyen, leaves Spain at a crossroads: it closes its exhausted conventional reactors while the funded future focuses on projects that are not yet ready. The paradox is aggravated by the French blockade of the Pyrenean interconnections, isolating the Iberian Peninsula and its cheap renewable energy.
Visualizing the new energy geopolitics: a 3D model of the supply chain 🗺️
To understand the impact, I propose an interactive 3D model that visualizes the future supply chain. This map would show four critical layers. First, the traditional reactors in the process of closure in Spain. Second, the location of SMR pilot projects, mainly in central and eastern European countries, with their EU funding flows. Third, the electrical interconnections in the Pyrenees, clearly marking the lines blocked by France. Fourth, the resulting energy flows: a more interconnected and nuclearized central Europe, versus an Iberian peninsula turned into a energy island, despite its renewable surplus and lower prices.
Strategic autonomy or reinforced dependence? ⚖️
The European narrative speaks of strategic autonomy, but geopolitical reality paints a different picture. The nuclear shift consolidates technological and financial dependence on a small club of countries, with France at the forefront. Meanwhile, the asymmetry with the Iberian Peninsula is perpetuated, whose renewable potential remains captive. The blockade of interconnections is not a mere technicality; it is a geopolitical tool that protects markets, hinders integration, and weakens the negotiating position of Spain and Portugal on the European energy board.
How will the new European nuclear strategy affect the geopolitical position and the resilience of the Iberian Peninsula's energy supply chains?
(PD: at Foro3D we know that a chip travels more than a backpacker on a sabbatical year)