Proceedings from project events

The ECOSENS project, funded by Euratom, aims to integrate societal, economic, and environmental
considerations into the assessment of nuclear energy's role in the future energy landscape. Spanning from
2022 to 2025, the project hosted a series of scientific events that engaged stakeholders from various
disciplines to discuss nuclear energy's sustainability, governance, and societal impact.
The project’s first event, "Powering the Future Responsibly: Assessing the Sustainability of Nuclear
Energy," held in 2023, focused on assessing nuclear energy's sustainability within broader energy systems.
The event underscored the necessity of incorporating social, cultural, and ethical dimensions into
sustainability assessments. The discussion emphasised flexibility in assessment methodologies, recognising
the need for contextualised evaluations that reflect public and environmental concerns.
The second scientific event, addressing "Public Participation in Decisions Related to Small Modular
(Nuclear) Reactors (SM(n)Rs)" in 2024, explored the growing interest in SMRs as part of Europe's energy
transition. The event highlighted the importance of early, transparent public engagement in SMR
development. It stressed that public understanding remains limited, with mixed perceptions of SMRs’ safety
and potential for contributing to climate goals. Key recommendations focused on the inclusion of local
communities, NGOs, and diverse stakeholders in decision-making processes.
The third scientific event, also in 2024, centred on assessing the socio-economic viability of nuclear energy
at the country level through the “System of Provision” (SoP) approach. SoP model integrated socioeconomic, political, and technological factors to evaluate national readiness for nuclear energy deployment.
The event also examined the Social Discount Rate (SDR) and its implications for long-term nuclear
investments, emphasising the need for transparency and contextual sensitivity in economic models.
The final ECOSENS conference in 2025 provided a comprehensive reflection on the interdisciplinary
results of the project. Discussions covered sustainability assessments, the role of SMRs, and socioeconomic models. It underscored the political nature of sustainability assessments and advocated for a
participatory, inclusive approach to nuclear energy governance. The conference concluded with a set of
practical recommendations to enhance public participation, promote transparent communication, and
integrate social sciences and humanities into nuclear energy policy.
Overall, the ECOSENS project highlighted the need for adaptable, context-sensitive frameworks that reflect
both technical and societal complexities, ensuring that nuclear energy development aligns with democratic
values and sustainability goals.