Rozhovor vznikl při příležitosti pořádání 18. výroční konference NERS 2026 jako představení hosta. Rozhovor vedl Jiří Marek z pozice Conference Chairman.
Guilherme Cardoso působí jako poradce pro jaderné technologie v organizaci nucleareurope, kde se zabývá evropskou jadernou politikou, technologiemi a průmyslovým rozvojem. Mezi jeho hlavní oblasti zájmu patří malé modulární reaktory (SMR), dodavatelský řetězec v jaderném odvětví, nízkouhlíkový vodík a přínos jaderné energie k ekologické transformaci Evropy a konkurenceschopnosti evropského průmyslu. Podílí se na celé řadě evropských iniciativ týkajících se budoucnosti jaderné energie, přičemž se zaměřuje zejména na průmyslovou a energetickou politiku.
Před nástupem do společnosti nucleareurope pracoval jako systémový inženýr ve společnosti EDF na projektu EPR Flamanville 3 ve Francii, kde získal přímé zkušenosti s výzvami spojenými s výstavbou jaderných elektráren.
Je držitelem bakalářského titulu v oboru materiálového inženýrství z Lisabonské univerzity v Portugalsku a magisterských titulů v oboru jaderného inženýrství z Katalánské polytechnické univerzity ve Španělsku a univerzity ParisTech PSL ve Francii.
Global nuclear community is expecting “nuclear renaissance”. You act closely with EU decision-making structures, which, frankly said “do not like nuclear energy”. But progress cannot be stopped. Do you sense any promising changes in the EU attitude?
Yes. The recent energy shocks have been a reality check for the European energy sector. The idea that Europe could rely on a 100% renewables-based strategy has been reassessed in many countries. Today, more than half of EU Member States are planning to increase their nuclear capacity, extend existing reactors, or even launch new nuclear programmes. This shift at national level is also reflected in a European Commission that is increasingly open to including nuclear in new legislation, industrial initiatives and financing discussions.
There is still a long way to go. Many EU strategies and targets developed over the last two decades were designed almost exclusively around renewables. One example is the current renewable energy target framework, which can create pressure even on countries with already highly decarbonised electricity systems to reduce the share of nuclear in favour of additional renewables. This is why we are pushing for low-carbon energy targets and for a genuinely technology-neutral approach across EU energy and industrial policy.
So, are we moving in the right direction? Definitely. We could and should move faster, but given how strongly EU policy has focused on renewables for the last twenty years, the progress made on nuclear recognition is significant.
And now a very challenging question. Between 1970 and 2000, around 200 nuclear reactors were built and commissioned in Europe – do you think that can be repeated?
Between 1970 and 2000, Europe added around 141 GW of nuclear capacity. Repeating that achievement is possible, but it would require conditions that are very different from today’s. At the time, nuclear programmes benefited from stronger public investment, more centralised decision-making, broader public acceptance in several countries, and regulatory frameworks that were generally less complex than they are now.
The first challenge is the supply chain and workforce. After almost three decades with very limited new build in Europe, many suppliers and skilled experts moved to other sectors or other markets. They will only invest, hire and expand if they see a stable pipeline of nuclear projects, backed by clear political commitment.
The second challenge is financing. In the 1970s and 1980s, most nuclear new build was largely state-led or state-backed. Today, private capital is expected to play a much larger role, which means projects need credible risk-sharing mechanisms, predictable regulation and long-term revenue visibility.
Finally, political stability is essential. Financiers, suppliers, operators and future workers all need confidence that projects will survive changes in government and policy cycles. If Europe can provide that stability, rebuild its industrial base and create the right financing conditions, then a new large-scale nuclear programme is absolutely achievable.
Thank you very much for your hopeful answers.
