On the windswept Suffolk coastline, the tiny hamlet of Sizewell has become an unlikely epicenter in the debate over Europe’s energy future. Just as the UK government has greenlit the massive Sizewell C nuclear power project, Croatia has announced plans to leap into the nuclear age with a trio of small modular reactors (SMRs), signaling a broader continental shift toward nuclear energy as a solution to both climate change and energy security.
For decades, nuclear power has been a contentious subject, conjuring images of both technological promise and environmental peril. Now, as geopolitical shocks and climate imperatives reshape the energy landscape, countries like Croatia and the UK are betting big on nuclear’s next chapter.
According to energy expert Ivica Jakić, speaking on HRT’s Studio 4, Croatia’s government has committed to building at least three SMR nuclear plants. This move, announced on September 20, 2025, aligns Croatia with European Commission and OECD policies urging the phasing out of subsidized energy prices. While support for vulnerable groups will remain through vouchers, and protections for small and medium-sized enterprises continue, the general public will soon see the end of broad energy subsidies.
Jakić emphasized that Croatia’s recent increases in gas and electricity tariffs aren’t the result of market instability, but rather a necessary step toward aligning with EU rules. Despite these changes, he noted, "Croatia still enjoys some of the lowest energy prices in Europe, behind only Hungary and Romania." Croatian National Bank Governor Boris Vujčić has warned of potential inflationary pressures, but the government appears undeterred, framing nuclear as the linchpin of a secure and sustainable energy future.
Why nuclear, and why now? The answer, according to Jakić, lies in a combination of technological progress and political necessity. The European Union’s reclassification of nuclear as a low-carbon energy source, coupled with international agreements—particularly between the US and UK—has accelerated the development of advanced SMRs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently described SMRs as a "key part of the future energy mix."
SMRs, or small modular reactors, differ from traditional nuclear plants in several crucial ways. They’re compact, safer by design, and can be installed with far less disruption. Using advanced technologies like liquid sodium salts, each reactor can operate independently without external cooling systems and comes pre-loaded with fuel for up to 20 years. Their lifespan? A remarkable 50 to 60 years. Capable of delivering up to 500 megawatts of power and even using recycled nuclear fuel, SMRs are pitched as a flexible, cost-effective answer to the continent’s energy needs.
"Nuclear energy is accepted as the energy of the future," Jakić told HRT, underscoring the government’s determination. Prefabricated in factories and assembled on site "like Lego blocks," SMRs can be up and running in as little as three to four years, with grid connection possible within five. Their modular design means Croatia can decentralize its energy infrastructure, reducing the need for long-distance transmission and boosting resilience. Notably, each plant will store its nuclear waste on site for its entire operational life, sidestepping some of the thorniest issues that have plagued the industry in the past.
While Croatia’s SMR program is still in its early stages, the government’s aim is clear: build at least three units, each composed of multiple smaller modules. The exact size and location of these reactors have yet to be determined, but the direction is set. As Jakić put it, "Croatia has chosen to move in that direction."
Meanwhile, across the North Sea, the UK’s nuclear ambitions are taking shape in a very different fashion. Sizewell, a village of fewer than 100 residents, has long been celebrated for its tranquil beaches and unspoiled scenery. But the announcement of Sizewell C—a vast new nuclear station set to dwarf the existing Sizewell B plant—has sparked fierce debate and deep divisions in the community.
Sizewell C will house two giant nuclear reactors and is expected to provide electricity for up to six million homes. The UK government’s approval of the project, reported by Express.co.uk, comes at a time when energy independence has taken on new urgency. The war in Ukraine and its ripple effects on European energy supplies have underscored the risks of relying on imported fossil fuels. For supporters, Sizewell C is a bulwark against such shocks—a reliable, weather-independent power source that will help the UK meet its climate goals.
Yet, for many in Sizewell and the surrounding Suffolk countryside, the project’s promise comes at a steep cost. Local environmental groups have mounted a determined opposition, citing the destruction of more than 22,000 trees, threats to wildlife, and the loss of cherished landscapes. The construction, expected to last over a decade, will bring noise, heavy traffic, and disruption to a village whose identity is bound up with peace and natural beauty.
The economic argument, though, is compelling. The £22 billion project will create thousands of jobs—many for local workers—and inject new life into a region that has long suffered from underinvestment. Local businesses are already reaping the benefits: Eastern Concrete, a Suffolk supplier, recently secured its largest-ever contract to provide materials for the build. For some, the influx of jobs and contracts is a much-needed lifeline.
Still, not everyone is convinced. Groups like Stop Sizewell C argue that the environmental costs will be felt for generations. While the project promises new nature reserves and tree replanting, critics contend that the immediate damage to biodiversity and habitats cannot be so easily undone. "The long-term benefits for wildlife will not materialize for decades, and the immediate damage to the environment is undeniable," one local campaigner told Express.co.uk.
The impact on tourism is another worry. Sizewell has long attracted visitors seeking its quiet charm and proximity to nature reserves like RSPB Minsmere. With construction looming, the village’s appeal risks being overshadowed by noise, traffic, and environmental change. For now, tourists can still enjoy birdwatching, coastal walks, and local pubs, but the future is uncertain.
Both Croatia and the UK now find themselves at a crossroads. For Croatia, the move toward SMRs reflects a desire to modernize its grid, meet EU climate targets, and shield itself from the volatility of global energy markets. For Sizewell, the decision to host a massive nuclear plant pits economic opportunity against environmental stewardship and community identity.
Across Europe, these stories are playing out in real time, as governments, businesses, and citizens grapple with the realities of transitioning to low-carbon energy. Nuclear power—whether in the form of giant reactors or nimble SMRs—offers both hope and controversy. What’s clear is that the choices made today will shape not just the energy mix, but the very character of local communities and the continent’s response to the climate crisis for decades to come.
As Croatia breaks ground on its SMR ambitions and Sizewell braces for transformation, the balance between progress and preservation has never felt more precarious—or more vital.
