Why Wallonia has everything to gain from citizen nuclear energy

The electricity bill weighs heavily on the wallet of Walloon households. Prices fluctuate with international markets, dependence on imported gas weakens our supply, and climate targets demand concrete responses. What if part of the solution lay in a radically different model: a nuclear power plant owned by the citizens themselves?

That's the bet of DikkeNuc, a Belgian project that aims to allow every citizen to become a co-owner of a nuclear infrastructure. Not a science-fiction dream, but a pragmatic approach rooted in the Walloon energy reality.

Energy in Wallonia: an assessment that calls for action

Belgium produces around 40 TWh per year thanks to its nuclear reactors, which represents nearly half of its total electricity production. In Wallonia, the Tihange site plays a central role in this balance.

Despite this, the average Belgian household pays around 1,300 euros per year for electricity, one of the highest amounts in Europe. Several factors explain this situation:

• Taxes and levies that weigh on the final bill
• Dependence on natural gas imports, whose price is subject to geopolitical tensions
• Ageing of production and network infrastructures
• Intermittency of renewable energies, which requires reliable baseload solutions

Citizen nuclear: what exactly are we talking about?

The principle is simple: rather than leaving nuclear energy production solely in the hands of large industrial groups, the capital is opened to citizens. Each participant invests an accessible amount and becomes co-owner of a share of the power plant.

This model draws inspiration from the energy cooperatives that have proven themselves in wind and solar in Wallonia. Structures such as Cociter or CLEF already bring together thousands of Walloon cooperators. DikkeNuc transposes this logic to the nuclear sector.

• An investment within reach of citizens, not reserved for multinationals
• Transparency on management, costs and profits
• Local anchoring of the value created by electricity production
• A voice for citizens in energy decisions

Three reasons why Wallonia stands to gain

1. Stabilize electricity prices

Nuclear offers a stable and predictable production cost, around 30 to 50 euros per MWh for existing plants. Unlike gas, whose price can triple within a few months as during the 2022 crisis, nuclear fuel represents only a small share of the total cost. This stability, shared directly with citizen co-owners, constitutes a natural protection against price shocks.

2. Strengthen energy independence

Belgium imports nearly all of its fossil fuels. Every kilowatt-hour of nuclear produced locally reduces that dependence. Uranium comes from diversified sources (Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan) and can easily be stored for several years. A citizen model adds an extra layer of sovereignty: the local community controls part of the production tool.

3. Create jobs and value in Wallonia

The Belgian nuclear sector employs around 16,000 people directly and indirectly. The Tihange site, in the province of Liège, represents a major skilled employment hub for the region. A citizen nuclear project amplifies this impact by:

• Keeping technical skills within Walloon territory
• Reinjecting profits into the local economy
• Stimulating training in scientific and technical fields

Nuclear and climate: a necessary alliance

The data from the IPCC and the International Energy Agency is clear: reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 without nuclear would be considerably more difficult and more expensive. Nuclear emits an average of 12 grams of CO₂ per kWh over its entire life cycle, a figure comparable to wind and much lower than natural gas (around 490 g CO₂/kWh).

For Wallonia, combining renewables and nuclear represents the most realistic path. Wind turbines and solar panels provide clean but intermittent energy. Nuclear ensures baseload production, day and night, in all weather.

How DikkeNuc makes this possible

DikkeNuc is working to build a legal, financial and technical framework that will allow Belgian citizens to become co-owners of a nuclear infrastructure. The project rests on several pillars:

• Financial accessibility: shares at a price designed to be inclusive
• Participatory governance: each cooperator has one voice, regardless of the amount invested
• Total transparency: regular reports on production, finances and safety
• Educational support: so that every citizen understands what they co-own

The approach does not shy away from any difficult question. Waste management, safety, decommissioning: everything is addressed rigorously and honestly, because an informed co-owner is an engaged co-owner.