Nuclear energy in the Netherlands: The government pays the bill

The outgoing cabinet wants to fully finance the construction of two new nuclear power plants through a new state-owned company, the Nuclear Energy Organization (NEO). This is because private parties are not interested in investing in new nuclear power plants. According to TNO, nuclear energy is only profitable if the construction costs per plant remain below €11.4 billion, which is considered unrealistic. Nevertheless, the cabinet wants to set up the NEO company in the next six months, despite political doubts about its financial feasibility.

Political division and budgetary concerns

Support for nuclear energy appears to be waning, given the debates and budgetary considerations within the political arena. Parties such as Volt, D66, CDA, and ChristenUnie are considering a €9.5 billion cut in the €13.9 billion budget reserved for new nuclear power plants. Experts are expressing concern that these budget cuts will further jeopardize the realization of new nuclear power plants.

The role of government and industry

The cabinet feels compelled to finance the construction of new nuclear power plants entirely on its own, as there is no interest from market parties. Minister Sophie Hermans already informed the House of Representatives in February 2025 that attempts to attract private investors had come to nothing. This decision stems from the conviction that government financing is ultimately cheaper than when companies participate. The government is therefore setting up the state-owned company NEO, in which it will initially invest €45 million, rising to €222 million in 2027. The need for government intervention is in line with a broader trend in politics, where there is a growing need for industrial policy and government intervention to retain strategic companies.

Economic feasibility and system costs

A study by TNO shows that the total system costs of building four new nuclear power plants are comparable to those of additional wind turbines in the North Sea. The economic feasibility of nuclear energy depends heavily on the construction costs per plant. According to TNO, nuclear energy is only financially attractive if the plants can be built for €11.4 billion each. If the construction costs are higher, the energy system would cost €1.5 to 2 billion more per year.

Energy independence and sustainability

Despite the financial challenges, energy independence remains an important argument for proponents of nuclear energy. Most political parties agree that energy independence is a worthwhile goal and that sustainability is necessary. Nuclear energy is seen as a way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower CO2 emissions. However, there are different views on the role of nuclear energy in the energy mix, with some parties seeing a greater role for wind energy and other renewable energy sources. The current nuclear power plant in Borssele should remain open longer, until 2033, but this requires a change in the law and approval from the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection (ANVS).

Election programs and the energy transition

The Dutch Sustainable Energy Association (NVDE) has compiled an overview of the most important energy points in the draft election programs of political parties. This shows that all programs pay serious attention to energy and that the energy transition has become an important theme. There is broad support for offshore wind energy, while onshore wind energy is often subject to new conditions. Nuclear energy is embraced by various parties, but with different levels of ambition.