Running nuclear plants for longer can help meet climate goals, EU's von der Leyen says

Extending the lifespan of existing nuclear power plants can help meet climate change targets, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told a nuclear energy summit in Brussels on Thursday.

"Extending the safe operation of today's nuclear fleet is one of the cheapest ways to secure clean power at scale," von der Leyen said, although she added that nuclear technologies face challenges including securing finance, and recent projects have run over budget and behind schedule.