
The Big Tech Show It’s time to go nuclear in Ireland
Nov 19, 2025
Eamonn O'Reilly, Chairman of the Energy and Action Committee at the Irish Academy of Engineering and energy policy expert, dives into the conversation about the potential role of nuclear energy in Ireland. He highlights the urgency for Ireland to reconsider nuclear options, especially with energy reliability concerns. O'Reilly shares insights on small modular reactors (SMRs), their advantages over traditional systems, and the challenges posed by current legislation. He also tackles public perception and safety comparisons between nuclear and fossil fuels, making the case for thoughtful planning in energy transition.
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Legal Ban Blocks Nuclear Options
- Ireland has a legal ban on building or licensing nuclear plants which blocks planning and energy regulator approval.
- Eamonn O’Reilly calls this ban
Carnsore Memory Explains Past Choices
- Eamonn O’Reilly recalls Ireland's 1970s plan for a Carnsore reactor and how ESB chose coal instead for reliability.
- He links that decision to system-risk concerns about a single large reactor dominating the grid.
Electricity Demand Could More Than Double
- Ireland's current electricity is ~35 TWh and projected to rise to ~80 TWh by 2050, more than doubling demand.
- Eamonn warns planning must match engineering realities for that 2.4x growth.
