A few months back, French president, Emmanuel Macron, announced that France would build new nuclear reactors, reiterating the role that nuclear power plays in helping the country meet its climate change targets and keeping electricity costs under control. Most recently, the coallition to form a government in the Netherlands also announced their plans to develop nuclear energy facilities to meet climate targets in the coming years.
The policy shift is in stark contrast to that pursued in other countries where a post-Fukushima nuclear phase out has not only increased electricity prices but also led to abandoning of emissions goals (reverting to fossil fuels to cover up for the deficit).
Growing opportunities in France
Nuclear energy produces much lower emissions than fossil sources such as coal, oil or gas. Nuclear plants have, however, in recent years become relatively expensive to build in some countries partly due to the deterioration of the supply chain and negative public opinion.
With close to 50% of its electricity coming from nuclear sources, France is a global behemoth in the nuclear energy sector. France is more dependent than any other country on nuclear energy, but its reactors are aging and with this there is a need of a new generation of employees to drive the transition.
Given the recent announcement that states the goal of reaching 75% before the end of the decade, pundits are already talking of a “Nuclear Power Renaissance” in Europe.
Exciting times to be a student of Nuclear Engineering
Given this renewed interest in nuclear technology, it is indeed a very exciting time to be studying nuclear engineering in Europe at EIT InnoEnergy Master School. The European Master’s in Nuclear Energy (EMINE) goes beyond the scope of traditional nuclear engineering education by putting nuclear energy in the context of a diverse energy mix.
Offered by some of the best European universities and business schools, the English-taught programme is spread out over two years. It involves some of France’s leading universities in topics like Operations, Nuclear Reactor Physics/Engineering, Fuel Cycle, Decommissioning/Waste Management and Nuclear Plant Design. Not surprisingly, the programme ranks #1 for employment in France amongst EIT InnoEnergy graduates. And with French policy shifting towards more nuclear energy, career opportunities will thrive!
Studying nuclear at KTH in Sweden and beyond
For my first year, I am studying at KTH Royal Institute of Technology where I am taking courses such as Nuclear Reactor Physics. But our experience does not limit to Sweden only. We also get to operate an actual research reactor during an academic trip to Prague, Czechia in December. This is yet another example of a country placing strategic value in nuclear reactors as part of their energy mix.
Other courses such as the nuclear fuel cycle offered in the autumn semester involve industrial visits to nuclear power plants in Sweden. There is the option to do an industrial internship that culminates in a Master’s thesis. This occurs at one of the companies, research centres and similar installations that is a partner of the EIT InnoEnergy consortium but that will come in spring semester during year two at a university in France where there are more than 50 nuclear reactors!
The nuclear power industry doesn’t exist in a vacuum
Occupying the point of convergence between business and research is only one of the programme’s highlights. As the effects of climate change continue to bite, more and more countries – particularly in the global south – are expressing renewed interest in developing indigenous nuclear power programmes. Kenya, where I am from, has plans to commission its first nuclear power plant in the coming decade. Being part of a programme such as the Master’s in Nuclear Energy can help me understand nuclear power from a multi-dimensional perspective that puts in the sort of diverse context it needs to survive.
It is not just about solving the reactor equation or figuring out novel methods to take full advantage of the nuclear fuel cycle. It is about understanding that the nuclear power industry, like any other technology, doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
Three months into my studies and it is more than apparent that the European Master’s in Nuclear Energy is the best programme of its kind to gain such an understanding!
By Francis Omondi Agar, EIT InnoEnergy Master’s in Nuclear Energy student.