In a significant policy shift, Italy is moving toward restarting nuclear power production, aiming to reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and address soaring energy costs. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing coalition government has advanced legislation to revive atomic energy through next-generation small modular reactors (SMRs), marking a departure from Italy’s decades-long rejection of nuclear power.

The government’s initiative follows back-to-back energy crises that exposed vulnerabilities in Italy’s energy supply, still heavily dependent on gas imports which fuel roughly half of its electricity generation. Meloni describes the nuclear revival as a “great prospect” offering low-carbon, affordable, and domestically produced electricity. In June, the lower house of parliament approved a framework law allowing the drafting of rules and regulations for nuclear energy production, including establishing a nuclear energy regulator and waste disposal protocols. The upper house is expected to ratify the law imminently, after which Italy will have a year to finalize detailed legislation and begin licensing new projects.

Italian businesses are showing interest in nuclear technology, particularly energy-intensive sectors such as steel and cement manufacturing. Stefano Buono, CEO of Franco-Italian nuclear start-up Newcleo, reports inquiries from industrial clients eager to tap into the stable power SMRs could provide.

However, the nuclear push has met resistance from environmentalists and renewable energy advocates. Monica Tommasi, president of Friends of the Earth Italy and a longtime renewable supporter, now views nuclear as the most viable solution to decarbonization after observing the extensive landscape disruptions caused by wind and solar projects. Still, many in the renewables sector warn that small modular reactors remain largely unproven commercially and caution that early investments should prioritize rapidly deployable solar and wind technologies, which the International Energy Agency calls the cheapest sources of electricity in optimal locations.

Italy’s geographic and cultural context complicates the energy transition. The country’s solar and wind capacity, about 60 gigawatts as of early 2026, lags behind Germany and Spain. German company RWE recently received approval to build seven 200-meter wind turbines near Orvieto, a move contested by local residents who say it threatens the scenic landscape. RWE argues the project, with a capacity of 42 megawatts sufficient to power 40,000 homes, strikes a balance between heritage preservation and energy security.

Italy’s fraught history with nuclear power includes initial expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, followed by a complete shutdown of reactors after the 1987 referendum prompted by the Chernobyl disaster. Attempts to restart nuclear energy under former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi were halted by a 2011 referendum after the Fukushima incident. Some opponents accuse Italy of inconsistency, as the country continues to import nuclear-generated electricity from France despite domestic opposition.

While public acceptance of the new nuclear agenda remains uncertain, with some coalition members warning that another referendum could be held, Italy’s government appears intent on pursuing nuclear power as a long-term pillar of its energy strategy alongside expanding renewables. Meanwhile, industries and policymakers confront the challenge of balancing environmental concerns, energy security, and affordability in a rapidly shifting European energy landscape.