Athlos Energy, in collaboration with the U.S. company Cambrian Nuclear, has completed an innovative preliminary analysis of potential sites for nuclear power plants in Greece. The study was conducted using Cambrian Nuclear’s Plinth platform, a specialized site evaluation tool for nuclear power plants that enables the combined analysis of large volumes of geospatial, seismotectonic, and geomorphological data.
The analysis covered the entire Greek territory, following a geographically neutral approach, without predefined areas of interest. The objective was to provide an initial assessment of the country’s siting suitability for different types of nuclear technologies, ranging from conventional large reactors using existing technology to small modular reactors (SMRs) and micro-reactors.
The methodology applied follows the internationally recognized guidelines of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), and the U.S. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The assessment took into account factors such as seismicity and proximity to faults, the risk of flooding and landslides, proximity to urban centers, topography, availability of land and water resources, as well as access to existing energy and transportation infrastructure. Greek and international databases were used to assess the most suitable areas, with analysis at a scale of several tens of meters.
The results of the preliminary study indicate that the country’s high seismicity is one of the most significant limiting factors for the selection of sites for large nuclear power plants. At the same time, the use of reactors with lower installed capacity appears to significantly broaden the range of potentially suitable areas, due to higher seismic design limits and reduced cooling water requirements.
Specifically, under the most conservative siting approach, applying strict seismic criteria and without considering potential adjustments or technological upgrades to reactor design, areas of Thrace and Southern Euboea emerge as potentially suitable for further investigation regarding the installation of large nuclear power plants.
The analysis also examined scenarios involving increased seismic design margins, consistent with practices applied in countries with high seismic activity. The results indicate that the application of enhanced technical specifications could significantly expand the range of areas that can be considered for the development of large nuclear facilities, including areas in Western, Central, and Eastern Macedonia, as well as Central Greece.
At the same time, areas of Western Greece, Central Greece, Thessaly, the Peloponnese, and selected areas of the Greek islands show potential for the development of nuclear power plants with lower installed capacity.
This study does not aim to select or propose a specific site for the construction of a nuclear reactor. It constitutes an initial preliminary assessment, which can serve as a basis for more specialized studies and for the evidence-based assessment of the conditions under which nuclear energy could be considered within the framework of Greece’s long-term energy strategy.
For Athlos Energy, this study is part of a series of preliminary analyses aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the fundamental parameters related to the potential application of nuclear energy in Greece. The results support the further development of the company’s business plan, while they could also prove useful to the Greek government, as part of the effort to shift the discussion on nuclear energy from the theoretical to the institutional level, through technically substantiated studies.
Detailed results of the first preliminary studies on the potential contribution of nuclear energy in Greece will be presented after the summer at a special event hosted by Athlos Energy. The company thanks Cambrian Nuclear and its founder, Dr. Ethan Bates, for their excellent cooperation, expertise, and contribution to the completion of the study.