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A recent survey conducted by HANetf* reveals a major shift in sentiment: 98% of wealth managers now consider nuclear energy genuinely ‘green’, and view it as a critical component in the drive towards net-zero emissions. What once faced stigma is now emerging as a cornerstone of Europe's clean-energy strategy, propelled by a refocus among institutional investors.

*independent European platform that creates and distributes exchange-traded funds (ETFs)

This transformation in mindset is backed by concrete investment behaviour. The same HANetf report highlights that 88% of wealth managers have recently invested in nuclear or uranium-focused funds. Institutional capital is increasingly flowing into Europe’s pioneering funds—one standout emerging entry is the London-listed Sprott Physical Uranium ETC (Exchange-Traded Commodity), branded as “Europe's first”, offering direct exposure to uranium and launched via HANetf in collaboration with Sprott.

Defiance ETFs (Exchange-Traded Fund), meanwhile, has released its Uranium Investment Market Outlook for 2025, which underscores that long-term nuclear demand is set to escalate. Constrained supply dynamics, coupled with the global push for added nuclear capacity, indicate uranium prices are set to rally as early as this year.

Several factors are fuelling this investment pivot:

• Regulatory validation: The inclusion of nuclear energy in the EU’s green taxonomy has removed a significant barrier, enabling access to green-labelled capital.

• Energy security realignment: The EU plans to grow its nuclear capabilities and buy-time for renewables, aiming to circumvent dependency on fossil-fuel volatility and geopolitical risk.

• Market tightness and upside potential: Global uranium production has underperformed demand growth, especially while ramp-ups in Kazakhstan and elsewhere lag. This supply squeeze makes uranium and nuclear equities attractive growth plays.

• Sprott Physical Uranium ETC (LSE & Xetra): Offering direct spot-price exposure via a physically-backed ETF, this product targets institutions seeking granular access to uranium equities.

• Sprott Uranium Miners UCITS ETF: Already Europe’s biggest uranium-mining fund, designed to meet growing demand among investors.

• Defiance’s uranium outlook: This comprehensive analysis anticipates long-term price strength and offers fund managers a thematic lens on nuclear energy’s role in 2025.

This trend is not simply driven by ESG compliance. There is tangible economic opportunity:
 

• Institutional endorsement: Eighty per cent of institutional investors now expect uranium prices to rise, while over 80% predict nuclear to be a long-term component of low-carbon energy portfolios.

• Rising uranium spot prices: In April 2025, uranium spot prices rose approximately 5.4% to around US$67.70 per pound—up from $63.20 in March—signalling renewed investor confidence.
   

• European institutional investors are increasingly treating civil nuclear energy not only as viable but desirable. With nuclear now recognized as green and a growing chunk of fund portfolios dedicated to uranium, the sector is entering a new era. While supply constraints and long development cycles pose risks, the longer-term rewards for investor portfolios—and for Europe’s decarbonization efforts—may be substantial.
  
  
• In summary, Europe’s institutional investment landscape is sharply tilting towards civil nuclear energy. With green recognition now near-universal and high-quality financial instruments emerging, 2025 may be remembered as the year nuclear truly came of age—both in capital markets and in the fight for net-zero.

As the civil nuclear energy sector continues to evolve, industry stakeholders will gather at the World Nuclear Exhibition (WNE) from 4–6 November 2025, at Parc des Expositions – Hall 6, Villepinte. This premier event will provide a platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and collaboration among government officials, private investors, industry leaders, and researchers.

As we look to the future, a collaborative approach, underpinned by robust financial support, will be essential in realizing the full potential of civil nuclear power in the global energy landscape.