Something new on the horizon: a nuclear energy alliance has been established in Denmark.

Several Danish business organizations, universities and companies have founded the Nuclear Power Alliance (Nuclear Power Alliance) with the aim of advocating for a technology-neutral approach to nuclear energy in the country, where this form of energy has been banned for 40 years and which is considered one of the EU countries that, along with Germany, Austria and Greece, most seriously opposes the broad use of nuclear energy

The Alliance is led by, among others, the Confederation of Danish Industry, the Dansk Metal union, and the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Among the members are the chemical engineering company Topsoe, the engineering consulting firm Niras, as well as the private investment fund 92 Capital, focused on the nuclear sector.

The Alliance stresses that it consists of companies, business organizations, unions, foundations, research centers and experts who want to contribute to a “fact-based dialogue oriented toward the future about the role of nuclear energy in Denmark's and Europe's energy supply.” The Alliance will cooperate internationally, especially within the framework of the European Union's work on small modular reactors (SMRs), in order to ensure that Danish interests are clearly represented. They stress that the United Nations, the International Energy Agency and the European Commission assess that nuclear energy can constitute a “necessary and sustainable part of an integrated solution for the future energy system,” which should also reflect on Danish energy policy.

“The initiative stems from a joint desire to strengthen fact-based debate and create better framework conditions for innovation, research and industry in Denmark,” the Alliance states in its communiqué, and Emil Drevsfeldt Nielsen, head of public policy at Dansk Metal, told the newspaper Børsen: “We will have to remove these bans. But also invest in research and development. This is the first step on the path to becoming part of this international technological development… Nuclear energy is one of the key technologies that will help strengthen our energy independence.”

Troels Ranis, deputy director of the Confederation of Danish Industry, added that the “great thing about nuclear energy is that, when we take capital costs into account, it becomes really cheap.” He stressed that the industry is seeking “access to competitive, stable and secure energy, and predictability in our energy system.”

By the way, the Danish Parliament in 1985 already passed a resolution banning the construction of nuclear power plants in the country. However, in May this year, a two-thirds majority of Danish MPs supported launching an investigation into the possible use of nuclear energy to bolster energy security. A report on the potential benefits of new nuclear technologies is expected during the coming year.