EU approves €2 billion aid package for Pallas reactor in the Netherlands

The European Commission has approved the Dutch government's €2 billion investment in the construction of the Pallas research reactor at Petten.

Share:

Aide européenne réacteur Pallas

Comprehensive energy news coverage, updated nonstop

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access • Archives included • Professional invoice

OTHER ACCESS OPTIONS

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

FREE ACCOUNT

3 articles offered per month

FREE

*Prices are excluding VAT, which may vary depending on your location or professional status

Since 2021: 35,000 articles • 150+ analyses per week

The European Commission has given the green light to the Dutch government’s €2 billion investment in the Pallas project, comprising a research reactor and a nuclear health center in Petten.
This approval complies with EU rules on state aid, ensuring that the project can go ahead without major distortions of competition.
The Pallas reactor will replace the existing High Flux Reactor (HFR), which has been in service since 1960.
Initially used for testing nuclear materials, the HFR has become essential for fundamental research and the production of medical radioisotopes, supplying 60% of Europe’s and 30% of the world’s needs for medical radioactive sources.

A state-of-the-art reactor

The Pallas reactor, a tank-in-pool design with a thermal power of 55 MW, promises more efficient use of its neutron flux than the HFR.
In addition to the production of medical radioisotopes, the project includes research, development and innovation activities in the fields of nuclear medicine and nuclear energy technologies.
State aid will take the form of loans and capital contributions totalling €2 billion to a new entity (NewCo) created to build and operate the reactor and nuclear health center.
This entity will result from the merger between Foundation Preparation Pallas-reactor and Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group (NRG).

Ensuring innovation and competition

The European Commission has assessed the aid as necessary and appropriate, given that the Pallas project would not be possible without this public support.
The aid is considered proportionate, as it is limited to the strict minimum needed to bridge a proven financing gap.
In addition, the Netherlands has put in place sufficient guarantees to minimize the impact on competition and trade.
Margrethe Vestager, executive vice-president in charge of competition policy at the European Commission, says: “This €2 billion measure enables the Netherlands to support a strategic project contributing to securing the supply of essential medicines and developing breakthrough innovations in nuclear technology, for the benefit of European citizens.”

Next steps in the Pallas project

The project is progressing well, with a construction license issued in February by the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ANVS).
Preparatory work on the foundations began in May 2023.
Peter Dijk, director of the Pallas program, reports that preparations for the construction phase of the reactor and associated buildings are well underway.
The Foundation Preparation Pallas-reactor has announced that its merger with NRG will begin next quarter, and the newly merged foundation will be transformed into a joint-stock company, with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport as sole shareholder.
The realization of this promising project marks a significant step forward for the nuclear health sector, and strengthens the Netherlands’ position as a leader in nuclear innovation.

Ontario Power Generation secures CAD3bn ($2.1bn) in public equity financing to construct four modular reactors at Darlington, aiming to ease private sector entry into next-generation nuclear infrastructure.
French developer Newcleo launches a joint venture with Nextchem through a EUR70 mn contract to design the conventional island of its upcoming 200 MW modular nuclear reactors.
NANO Nuclear strengthens its North American strategy by acquiring Global First Power in Canada, securing regulatory rights for its KRONOS MMR™ project at Chalk River.
South Korea becomes the first country to submit a safeguards technical report to the IAEA for a small modular reactor, setting a precedent for early integration of non-proliferation requirements in nuclear design.
The Environmental Authority criticises the lack of key data on health risks, chemical discharges and construction safety for EDF's two upcoming EPR2 reactors in Seine-Maritime.
Brazil and China have concluded a three-year agreement to secure access to essential radioisotopes for the medical, industrial and scientific sectors, with no financial exchange between the parties.
US-based developer Last Energy will deploy its first domestic microreactor at Texas A&M-RELLIS, marking a strategic step in the advanced modular reactor race.
Amazon unveils new visuals of its upcoming nuclear site, marking a key step in its partnership with X-energy to deploy up to 960 MW of modular nuclear capacity in Washington state.
Canadian uranium producer NexGen Energy has completed a A$1bn ($639mn) equity raise split between North American and Australian markets to support the development of its Rook I project.
Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings is examining the permanent closure of units 1 and 2 at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the oldest at the site, while continuing efforts to restart unit 6.
The formal expiration of the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran comes as international sanctions have already been reinstated and diplomatic negotiations remain stalled.
Oklo, newcleo and Blykalla partner to develop advanced nuclear fuel infrastructure in the United States, backed by a planned $2bn investment.
enCore Energy has identified three new uranium roll fronts at its Alta Mesa project, with ongoing drilling aimed at defining their extent and accelerating development work.
California-based Radiant will build its first microreactor production facility in Oak Ridge, on a former Manhattan Project site, with production targeted at 50 units per year by 2028.
EDF restarted the Flamanville EPR reactor after repairing non-compliant valves, delaying the target of reaching full power output of 1,620 MW until the end of autumn.
Nano Nuclear and the University of Illinois will begin drilling operations for the KRONOS MMR™ reactor on October 24, marking a key step toward commercialisation of the nuclear project on the Urbana-Champaign campus.
Natura Resources is finalising construction of the MSR-1, an advanced liquid-fuel nuclear reactor, with a planned launch in 2026 on the Abilene Christian University campus.
JPMorganChase commits $10bn in direct investments as part of a $1.5tn plan to boost energy independence and strategic technologies, including next-generation nuclear power.
A roadmap under development aims to establish regulatory and technical foundations for the deployment of small modular reactors, with the goal of strengthening national energy security and attracting private capital.
EDF adjusts its 2025 nuclear production forecast to between 365 and 375 TWh, supported by the performance of its industrial programme START 2025 focused on maintenance efficiency.

All the latest energy news, all the time

Annual subscription

8.25$/month*

*billed annually at 99$/year for the first year then 149,00$/year ​

Unlimited access - Archives included - Pro invoice

Monthly subscription

Unlimited access • Archives included

5.2$/month*
then 14.90$ per month thereafter

*Prices shown are exclusive of VAT, which may vary according to your location or professional status.

Since 2021: 30,000 articles - +150 analyses/week.