Europe Must Combine Nuclear and Renewables for Energy Security

European energy leaders say the continent must combine nuclear power with renewable sources to ensure a stable and secure electricity system.

This shift signals an end to the internal debate over which technology should dominate the transition to green energy. By integrating both sources, Europe aims to avoid grid instability and ensure that electricity remains affordable while meeting climate goals.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol and EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen discussed the strategy during a broadcast of Euronews’s #TheEuropeConversation program on Friday. The two leaders said that relying on a single energy source is insufficient for the continent's complex needs.

"We need both nuclear and renewables to secure Europe’s energy future," Birol said ^[1].

The discussion focused on ending what leaders described as binary tech wars. While wind and solar power have expanded rapidly, officials said that renewables alone cannot stabilize the European grid ^[2]. The intermittent nature of weather-dependent energy requires a consistent baseline of power to prevent outages.

Jørgensen highlighted the physical and technical requirements of the energy transition. He said that the infrastructure must support a constant flow of electricity regardless of weather conditions.

"Those electrons still need cables – a reliable, always‑on supply that only nuclear can guarantee alongside renewables," Jørgensen said ^[1].

The strategy seeks to balance the immediate need for energy security with the long-term goal of decarbonization. By utilizing nuclear energy as a stabilizing force, the EU intends to create a more resilient framework that supports the growth of renewable installations without risking systemic failure [1, 2].