Michele Vitiello, Secretary General of the World Energy Council Italy, is unequivocal: energy is a strategic asset that must be approached “in a non-partisan manner, grounded in scientific rationality.” Sustainable nuclear energy must fit within that framework — free from prejudice and, above all, free from being weaponized in electoral campaigns, as too often happens.
Vitiello spoke as part of “Power Talks,” an editorial format produced in collaboration between Italpress and Philia Associates. His stance on nuclear power is clear: the energy system needs a stable baseload source that renewables alone cannot yet provide. The intermittency of clean energy sources demands widespread and costly storage solutions. Sustainable nuclear, in his view, “represents a less impactful solution going forward, and a strategic investment in Europe’s energy future.” Diversifying the energy mix is not an option — it is the baseline requirement for achieving energy security and independence.
The context surrounding these remarks is anything but neutral. Italy’s sustainable nuclear bill, approved by the Council of Ministers in October 2025, is currently being debated in the Senate. The stated goal is to establish, by 2034, a regulatory framework to restart domestic nuclear power generation — targeting an installed capacity of between 8 and 16 gigawatts by 2050, which could cover between 11% and 22% of national electricity demand. The plan foresees investments of approximately 60 million euros over the 2027–2029 period, earmarked for research, design and workforce training. On the institutional side, the bill also establishes an independent nuclear safety authority.
Vitiello identifies three simultaneous transitions underway: cultural, energy and digital. The digital transition is moving fast. The energy transition requires solid infrastructure and longer lead times. Artificial intelligence is driving electricity demand higher — making grid stability all the more urgent. The energy trilemma — security of supply, environmental sustainability and economic affordability — remains the benchmark against which every technology choice, nuclear included, must be measured. Energy sources are not “left-wing” or “right-wing”: they are available resources that need to be balanced.
Public acceptance is a central part of Vitiello’s analysis. The Nimby phenomenon is holding back infrastructure projects of all kinds, not just nuclear. He does not call for dismissing public resistance — he calls for addressing it with accurate information. “Freedom comes from awareness,” he argues. He also advocates for plain-language communication, convinced that much of the distrust stems from the opacity of technical jargon. If the energy transition is to be a just one, it must first be an understandable one.
Italy has signed on to the international commitment to triple global nuclear capacity, joined the European Nuclear Alliance, and is contributing to the industrial alliance on small modular reactors. The direction of travel is set. The open question is no longer whether nuclear will return to Italy’s energy mix, but how quickly the regulatory framework and public consensus can keep pace with the real needs of the energy system. Vitiello appears confident that the answer depends, in large part, on the quality of the public conversation that can be built from here on out.
