Taking place in Hamilton from 26 May, the Carbon and Energy Professionals conference brings together energy, climate and sustainability professionals to discuss the latest developments, challenges and technologies shaping New Zealand’s low-emissions transition.

This year's conference will feature a keynote address via video link from World Nuclear Association director-general Sama Bilbao y León on the growing global interest in small modular and micro nuclear reactors.

Carbon and Energy Professionals chief executive Mike Hopkins said growing international investment in small modular and micro nuclear reactors highlighted the need for New Zealand to better understand emerging nuclear technologies and their potential role in low-emissions energy systems.

"New Zealand is in an energy crisis. We are still dependent on gas that’s all but run out and imported coal to prop up the electricity system and keep the lights on, both of which carry significant emissions implications as we approach 2030 and those financial liabilities arising from missing Paris targets.

"Meanwhile, the energy world is buzzing over the potential for small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors (MMRs)," he said.

“Here in New Zealand, we have an aversion to nuclear energy – and for very good reasons – but the rest of the world is seeing nuclear, and especially SMRs and MMRs, as a low carbon, quick solution to powering data centres and regional grids.

"Meta, Google, Amazon and the like are all investing in nuclear energy. Nuclear start-ups receive around a fifth of all climate venture funding."

Hopkins said many countries and multinational companies were increasingly turning to nuclear power as part of their decarbonisation strategies, prompting the conference invitation to Bilbao y León.

“France has just published a roadmap to be completely fossil fuel free by 2050 and the backbone of its transition is nuclear powered electricity," he said.

"As a country, we need to be better informed on what all that fuss is about, and we’ve invited the head of the World Nuclear Association, Dr Sama Bilbao y León, to bring us up to date on why so many countries, regions and multinationals are turning to nuclear to help satisfy their insatiable energy hunger."

Hopkins said the conference aimed to encourage informed debate around nuclear energy, including scrutiny of issues such as safety, waste disposal and long-term costs. “CEP is all about education and knowledge and our conference encourages healthy discussion. We expect Dr Bilbao y León to receive robust questioning from our delegates.

"Yes, we expect her to convey the benefits of nuclear power but equally we encourage hard questions from the audience around safety, disposal and long-term value for money.

"We need to take the emotion out of the nuclear power debate and it’s important New Zealand understands whether the latest developments in the field are relevant to our energy landscape.”