Nuclear Power in Italy

(updated February 2010)

• Italy has had four operating nuclear power reactors but shut the last two down following the Chernobyl accident.
• Over 10% of its electricity is now from nuclear power - all imported.
• The government has passed legislation and intends to have 25% of electricity supplied by nuclear power by 2030.
• An EdF-ENEL joint venture plans to build 6400 MWe of nuclear capacity in the next decade.

Electricity consumed in Italy in 2006 was 318 billion kWh, giving per capita consumption of 5250 kWh/yr.

In 2007 local production was 314 billion kWh gross, 53.5% from gas, 12% from oil, 16% from coal and 12% from hydro. Imports of 45 billion kWh net (effectively, some 14% of its needs) are required, mostly nuclear power from France*. This is equivalent to output from about 6 GWe of base-load capacity. Installed capacity in 2006 was 89.5 GWe.

* More than half comes immediately from Switzerland - 26 TWh in 2005, which imports much of it - 29 TWh in 2006, from France and Germany.
Enel (originally Italian Electricity Generation Board) is responsible for electricity production and transmission. In 1992 it became ENEL SpA, a joint stock company, and in 1999 40% of its shares went public. Also generating subsidiaries were formed and sold off with the aim of limiting Enel's share of the market to 50%. Due to the high reliance on oil and gas, as well as imports, Italy's electricity prices are well above EU average. In 2008 the price averaged EUR 8.8 c/kWh, 2 cents more than in France.

Italy today is now the only G8 country without its own nuclear power, and is the world's largest net importer of electricity.

In May 2008 the new Italian government confirmed that it will commence building new nuclear power plants within five years, to reduce the county's great dependence on oil, gas and imported power. It will work towards having 25% of its electricity from nuclear power by 2030, which will require 8 to 10 large new reactors by then. The government introduced a package of nuclear legislation, including measures to set up a national nuclear research and development entity, to expedite licensing of new reactors at existing nuclear power plant sites, and to facilitate licensing of new reactor sites. Enel plans to build new reactors at one or more of three licensed sites: Garigliano, Latina, or Montalto di Castro. The first two had small early-model reactors operating to 1982 and 1987. At Montalto di Castro two larger reactors were almost complete when the country's November 1987 referendum halted construction.

Italy's phase out of nuclear energy following the 1987 referendum has had major costs to the whole economy. The Minister of Economic Development in October 2008 put the figure for this "terrible mistake" at some EUR 50 billion. He said the government was "relaunching" nuclear energy, beginning with legislation to create the needed infrastructure and empower the government to propose incentives to communities which accept nuclear plants. Italy will expedite this renaissance by adopting an already-licensed reactor design, and will involve Italian industry as much as possible. The minister pointed out that electricity prices in Italy are 30% higher than the EU average and 60% higher than in France.

The comprehensive economic development legislation finally passed in July 2009 makes nuclear power a key component of energy policy with a view to having 25% of electricity generated by nuclear power by 2030. The government has up to six months to define sites, technology, etc.

Nuclear industry development

Italy was a pioneer of civil nuclear power and in 1946 established the first scientific body to pursue this. In 1952 it established an agency to develop and promote nuclear power, and this was reorganised in 1960 to become CNEN (National committee for nuclear energy).

Construction of the first civil reactor - a British Magnox unit - began in 1958, and the following year construction of the first GE boiling water reactor commenced. In 1961 the first Westinghouse pressurised water reactor began building.

Italy's former power reactors

Reactors	Model	Net MWe	Power
Latina	GCR	153	1963-87
Garigliano	BWR	150	1964-78
Trino Vercellese	PWR	260	1964-87
Caorso	BWR	860	1978-86
Montalto di Castro 1 & 2	BWR	982 each	nil
Total operated (4)		1423 MWe

In 1966 Enel announced an ambitious program of nuclear plant construction, aiming for 12,000 MWe by 1980. Following this, ANSALDO was set up to supply nuclear components, both local and imported.

In 1967 CNEN and Enel started developing an Italian version of the Candu reactor, with heavy water moderation but light water cooling, called CIRENE. In 1972 an order was placed with ANSALDO to build a 40 MWe prototype, but this was not finished until 1988 due to technical problems.

In 1973 Enel took a 33% share of the Super Phenix fast breeder reactor being built in France. This started up in 1986 and closed in 1998.

Following a referendum in November 1987, provoked by the Chernobyl accident 18 months earlier, work on the nuclear program was largely stopped. In 1988 the government resolved to halt all nuclear construction, shut the remaining reactors and decommission them from 1990. As well as the operating plants, two new nuclear BWR plants were almost complete and six locally-designed PWR plants were planned. ENEA (formerly CNEN) also closed various fuel cycle facilities, including a fuel fabrication plant at Bosco Marengo.

Despite its previously high level of activity and expertise, Italy remained largely inactive in nuclear energy for 15 years.

In 1999 SOGIN (Societa Gestione Impianti Nucleari) was set up as a state-owned enterprise to take over all Enel's and ENEA's nuclear assets and be responsible for decommissioning them. It was also to take responsibility for all nuclear wastes.

Nuclear revival - government policy

In 2004 a new Energy Law opened up the possibility of joint venture with foreign companies in relation to nuclear power plants and importing electricity from them. This resulted from a clear change in public opinion, especially among younger people favouring nuclear power for Italy. In 2008 a new economic development bill focused on nuclear power was passed by the lower house and after delays in the senate, was resolved by mid 2009.

In February 2010 further legislation set out a framework for siting nuclear power plants which is to involve local government. For nuclear power plants and fuel-cycle facilities, a so-called 'unique authorisation' would be required for building, as well as an environmental permit. In January, provisions for public consultation had been announced, and the draft decree set out financial benefits for cities and regions which host power plants: EUR 3000/MW/yr during construction and EUR 0.40 /MWh in operation. Within three months (by 10 May) the cabinet should issue a nuclear strategy document - the result of negotiations between the ministries of economic development, education and environment.

In addition to current laws dealing with waste treatment, the new Nuclear Safety Agency will produce some guidelines for radioactive waste management, while Sogin will no longer be the only company authorised to decommission old nuclear facilities. By 10 July the Nuclear Safety Agency, after collaboration with the above ministries, is due to deliver its draft guidelines. This document will give technical criteria for site selection in terms of population and socio-economic issues, risk of seismic activity and hydrology, among others. Power companies will then be able to present plans for development within these suitable areas.

In October 2007 Italy became the 17th member of the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP) set up to develop new nuclear fuel cycle technologies to improve proliferation resistance while increasing recycling and reducing wastes. See also mention of ELSY below under R&D. In September 2009 a nuclear cooperation agreement with the USA cleared the way for using US nuclear technology alongside the planned EPRs.

Nuclear revival - utility moves

In 2005 Electricité de France and Enel signed a memorandum of understanding to give Enel a 12.5% share (some 200 MWe) from the new Flamanville-3 EPR nuclear reactor (1650 MWe) in France, and potentially another 1000 MWe or so from the next five such units built. As well as the 12.5% share, Enel was also to be involved in design, construction and operation of the plants, which would enhance Italy's power security and improve its economics. A major benefit would be in rebuilding Italy's nuclear skills and competence. However, early in 2007 EdF backed away from this agreement and said it would build Flamanville 3 on its own and take all the output. Nevertheless, in November 2007 an agreement was signed confirming the 12.5% Enel investment in Flamanville - now expected to cost EUR 500 million - plus the same share of another five such plants. The agreement also gave EdF an option to participate in construction and operation of future Enel nuclear power plants in Italy or elsewhere in Europe and the Mediterranean.

Following on from this, in August 2009 an EdF-Enel joint venture company, Sviluppo Nucleare Italia (SNI - Developing Italian Nuclear), was set up with 50:50 ownership. Initially it will conduct feasibility studies on building at least four 1650 MWe Areva EPR units at three sites at a cost of EUR 16-18 billion (this figure reiterated in January 2010). If new build proves feasible, separate project companies will be set up to build, own and operate the new power plants. Enel would retain a majority stake and EdF's involvement would be expected, but further investors would also be invited. Two reactors would be built at a northern site, one at a central site and one in the south.

Enel expects the first site to be licensed in 2011, a construction and operating licence to be issued in 2013, construction start in 2015, and operation of the first unit in 2020. Electricity from the nuclear plants is expected to be about 30% cheaper than current supplies.

Enel itself is playing an active role beyond Italy’s borders. In 2004 it bought 66% of Slovenske Electrarne (SE) with its four VVER 440/V213 Bohunice and Mochovce reactors there. Enel's subsequent investment plan approved in 2005 involves EUR 1.88 billion investment to increase SE generating capacity, including EUR 1.6 billion for completion of Mochovce units 3 & 4 - 942 MWe gross - by 2011-12.

In February 2009 Enel bought 25% of Spain’s Endesa power producer for EUR 11 billion, taking its ownership to 92%, as agreed in 2007. Endesa has equity in three Spanish nuclear reactors: 100% of Ascó 1; 85% of Ascó 2 and 78% of Vandellós 2. All are pressurized water reactors producing around 1000 MWe each and operated by a subsidiary jointly owned with Iberdrola.

Fuel cycle

In 1973 Italy joined the Eurodif consortium building a large diffusion enrichment plant at Marcoule in France. AGIP Nucleare and CNEN were in charge of enriched uranium supplies.

In 1972 ANSALDO in joint venture with GE completed a BWR fuel fabrication plant to supply both Italy and a Swiss plant. This is being decommissioned by SOGIN.

There was also a pilot reprocessing plant for Magnox fuel.

Radioactive Waste Management & Decommissioning

In the mid 1990s Enel terminated nuclear fuel reprocessing and moved to dry cask storage for used fuel from light water reactors.

Today SOGIN is responsible for nuclear and radioactive wastes, and reactor and fuel cycle decommissioning. Some 290 tonnes of used fuel is in dry storage, and overall 5500 cubic meters of radioactive wastes are stored.

In November 2006 a bilateral French - Italian agreement cleared the way for SOGIN to sign a contract with Areva NC for reprocessing 235 tonnes of used fuel now in storage. It is being shipped to La Hague between 2007 and 2015 and the wastes are to be returned after 2020.

Latina's Magnox spent fuel - about 1400 tonnes in total - was shipped to UK for reprocessing at Sellafield.

All reactors are now defuelled and are in Safstor stage of decommissioning. The total cost of this is estimated at EUR 2.6 billion, plus EUR 0.86 billion for fuel cycle facilities. This is funded by a levy on electricity sales.

Sogin's plan for decommissioning will see the former fuel fabrication plant at Bosco Marengo becoming the first facility to be safely decommissioned, in 2009. The first nuclear power plant to be decommissioned will be Trino, in 2013.

A national repository for wastes is envisaged, but previous attempts to identify a site have failed.

R&D

The leading agency for applied nuclear research is ENEA. While most R&D is focused on decommissioning and wastes, basic research continues in order to maintain the nuclear option in the light of climate change concerns.

In the 1970s and 1980s ENEA operated two pilot reprocessing facilities and a pilot MOX fabrication plant.

Several research reactors are operating, including AGN Constanza (since 1960), Uni of Pavia's LENA Triga II (250 kW, since 1965), ENEA's Tapiro (5 kW, since 1971), ENEA's Triga RC-1 (1 MW, since 1960) and a subcritical assembly.

Ansaldo Nucleare, which is building Cernavoda 2 in Romania, is also involved with international R&D on new reactor systems. These include IRIS (with Westinghouse), Euratom projects, and a Generation IV design for the Lead-cooled Fast Reactor. This is ELSY - the European Lead-cooled SYstem, and Ansaldo Nucleare is leading the development of it, with finance from Euratom.

Regulation and safety

In 1964 CNEN was confirmed as the regulatory body for Italy's nuclear power, using safety criteria from UK and USA. It was later split into ENEA - responsible for research and promotion of nuclear energy, and ENEA/DISP as the independent regulatory body. This then became APAT, the Agency for Environmental Protection & Technical Services, as the regulatory body in charge of safety and licensing. This in turn later became the nuclear department of the environmental protection ministry - ISPRA.

The 2008-09 legislation dealing with new nuclear build in Italy also sets up an independent Agency for Nuclear Security (ASN) as the new regulator, with staff drawn from APAT and ENEA. It also sets out licensing procedures for new plants.

Public opinion

A public opinion poll in July 2008 (N=800) found that 54% supported nuclear power in Italy while 36% opposed it (compared with 82% opposition in 2007). The poll also found that 83% were opposed to Italy building new nuclear power plants for itself in neighbouring countries, while 11% thought it was a good idea.

Non-proliferation

Italy is party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) since 1975 as a non-nuclear weapons state. It is a member of both Euratom and the Nuclear Suppliers' Group. In 1998 it signed the Additional Protocol in relation to its safeguards agreements with the IAEA.

References:
OECD/IEA Electricity Information 2004.
IAEA 2003, Country Nuclear Power Profiles.

參考來源:World Nuclear Association