In a quiet part of central Romania, the town of Doicesti could soon find itself on Europe’s energy map. State company Nuclearelectrica plans to decide next year whether to build a small modular reactor (SMR) plant there. If approved, it would be the first of its kind in Europe, and possibly the start of a new chapter for clean energy on the continent.
The idea is to use NuScale Power’s modular reactor technology from the United States. Six small units would produce around 460 megawatts in total, with the first module ready by 2029. There’s also an 80-MW solar park already in place on the site. Together, they could create a model for how nuclear and renewables can work side by side.
A Chance to Lead in Europe
Romania’s Energy Minister Sebastian Burduja thinks the timing is right. The European Commission wants the first SMR reactors online by 2030 as part of its net-zero plan. “We have the chance to be the first, or among the first,” Burduja said during a site visit with U.S. Ambassador Kathleen Kavalec. “We picked a technology that’s ready to go.”
The country has reason to move fast. Its energy mix still includes gas and coal, but officials see nuclear as the backbone of a cleaner system. The war in Ukraine only reinforced that view. Energy independence is no longer just policy talk — it’s a strategic need.
Backed by the United States
The Doicesti project already has strong political and financial backing from Washington. The U.S. EXIM Bank and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation together pledged $4 billion in support. Ambassador Kavalec called it “a visionary project with both political and financial commitment from the highest levels of the U.S. government.”
Nuclearelectrica CEO Cosmin Ghita said private investors are also interested. “Our goal is to finish the first module by late 2029,” he told reporters. “Then we’ll connect the rest one by one.”
For a country that joined the EU less than two decades ago, this kind of partnership signals trust and rising credibility in Europe’s energy scene.
A Different Outcome from the U.S.
Of course, not everything NuScale tried has worked out. The company canceled a U.S. project in Utah last year because of rising costs and lack of buyers. Romanian officials argue their version will be cheaper and more practical.
Labor and construction costs are lower, and the Romanian government is fully behind it. Burduja said this version could be “up to a third cheaper” than the Utah one. That matters, because nuclear projects often stumble on financing long before the first concrete is poured.
Small Reactors, Big Impact
SMRs are different from traditional nuclear plants. Each reactor is built in a factory and shipped to the site. That means shorter build times and easier quality control. Each module produces about 77 megawatts of power, and more can be added as needed.
Safety is also central to the design. The systems shut down automatically if something goes wrong. For a public that still remembers older nuclear accidents, that matters. And because the units are smaller, they can fit near industrial zones or even future data-center clusters.
When combined with renewables, SMRs can fill the gaps when the sun isn’t shining or the wind dies down. In practice, that makes them a bridge between fossil fuels and a cleaner, stable energy future.
Training People, Not Just Building Plants
The project isn’t just about hardware. Romanian universities are already setting up programs to train young engineers for reactor operation and safety. NuScale is expected to work closely with local institutions to share technical know-how.
It’s a big step for a country that wants to keep its talent from leaving for Western Europe. As one official put it, “We’re not only building power plants; we’re building skills.”
What Comes Next?
The real decision will come in 2025, when Nuclearelectrica and its partners weigh all the numbers and environmental studies. If they move ahead, Doicesti could be producing electricity before the end of the decade.
By then, Romania could be one of the first countries in the world, not just in Europe, to operate an SMR plant. It would also show that nuclear energy still has a future in a climate-conscious Europe.
Why This Matters for Power Loop Readers?
For readers of Power Loop, this is a glimpse of where technology, policy, and geopolitics overlap. Romania’s plan shows that the future of energy won’t depend on one solution. It will come from mixing clean sources: nuclear, solar, and beyond, backed by global cooperation and local skill.
If Doicesti succeeds, it could mark the start of a new phase in Europe’s power transition, proving that small, smart, and modular can also mean strong and sustainable.
