May 2025 marked a historic turning point for nuclear energy, which is now at the heart of energy sovereignty strategies in a fractured world. From Tokyo to Copenhagen, Berlin to Washington, nuclear power is emerging as a pragmatic response to the intermittency of renewables and geopolitical instability.
The European Union, awakened by an unprecedented power outage in Spain, is rediscovering the need for a controllable base load, while even Germany is abandoning its ideological opposition to nuclear power. Meanwhile, China and Russia are accelerating their efforts: ten new reactors have been approved by Beijing, and Moscow is multiplying nuclear construction projects in emerging countries.
In this tense global context, the United States has also raised its voice: Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders to revive the national nuclear industry.
The goal is ambitious: 300 GW of new capacity by 2050, ten reactors under construction by 2030, and greater independence from Russian uranium.
Investors have not been mistaken: shares in NuScale, Oklo, and Centrus Energy have jumped by more than 20% on Wall Street in just a few days.
The administration also wants to facilitate approvals, expand the role of the Department of Defense, and create a strategic reserve of advanced fuel. However, some experts are criticizing the weakening of NRC safeguards, which could undermine public confidence in the industry.
Despite these tensions, small modular reactors (SMRs) appear to be the industry's great promise, both for data centers and former coal sites. Denmark, Japan, France, and the United States are all betting on this compact, standardized, and rapidly deployable technology.
According to the IEA, global nuclear production will reach a record high in 2026, driven by Asia and strong international commitments.
Notably, the European Union has officially classified nuclear power as green energy in its taxonomy, facilitating its integration into ESG portfolios.
In a world where every kilowatt is strategic, nuclear power is no longer an option: it is a pillar of the new global energy order.
