How Nuclear Investments Support Local Economies and Regional Growth | A Study from Tractebel
Tractebel (ENS Corporate Member), in collaboration with Technopolis, has published a new study highlighting significant opportunities for businesses in the Dutch Province of Zeeland, as the Netherlands advances plans for the construction of new nuclear power plants.
Commissioned by the Province of Zeeland, the regional development agency Impuls Zeeland and employers’ organisation VNO-NCW Brabant Zeeland, the study explores how regional companies can position themselves within the nuclear supply chain and benefit from upcoming investments.
Conducted between July 2025 and January 2026, the analysis focuses primarily on large-scale nuclear new build projects, while also considering Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and the lifetime extension of the existing Borssele nuclear power plant.
The findings indicate that Zeeland’s industrial base already possesses many of the capabilities required to support nuclear projects, particularly in construction, infrastructure and transport. In this context, the study identifies around 130 companies that could potentially contribute to the supply chain, mainly within intermediate tiers.
Local businesses could capture between €3.1 billion and €4.6 billion in direct value over a 12-year construction period, representing approximately 15% of total plant costs, with an additional €1 billion in indirect economic impact.
To fully realise this potential, the study recommends strengthening cooperation between stakeholders at the regional, national and international levels, in particular through the creation of a “Nuclear Delta” platform, a public-private initiative bringing together businesses, public authorities and educational institutions.
The study also emphasises the importance of supporting companies in meeting nuclear-grade quality standards and certification requirements, as part of the proposed roadmap for supply chain participation.
Read the full Tractebel Press Release or the Study Summary.
As nuclear energy can support energy security and climate goals while also contributing to economic development, the Dutch government announced in 2022 plans to extend the lifetime of the Borssele reactor, the country’s only nuclear power plant, and build two new units expected around 2035, each with a capacity between 1,000 MW and 1,650 MW, and using a Generation III+ reactor technology. Once operational, the new NPPs can supply 9-13% of the country’s total electricity.
