SIEW TechTable: Nuclear Energy, the Net Zero Solution We Need?

by User Not Found Oct 26, 2023, 11:09 AM

International Atomic Energy Agency's Dr Henri Paillere extols the merits of nuclear energy beyond its potential for decarbonisation.

"Nuclear power has been around for more than five decades, but it is making a (significant) comeback," Dr Henri Paillere, Head of Planning and Economic Studies Section, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), began his presentation at SIEW TechTable, highlighting the remarkable resurgence of nuclear energy.

The topic, on "Nuclear: Atoms4NetZero, the Contribution of Nuclear Energy to Net Zero Transitions", is one that is increasingly recognised as an indispensable part of future low carbon energy systems.

This was also the sentiment expressed by Dr Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA), said Dr Paillere. "We consider (nuclear energy) to be a backbone of future low carbon energy systems," he said, stressing its pivotal role in mitigating climate change by averting an estimated gigaton of CO2 emissions annually.

Dr Paillere provided three compelling reasons for embracing nuclear power in the transition to net zero:

Minimal environmental impact
Nuclear energy has the lowest carbon intensity of all low carbon technologies, as demonstrated by a study from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
Additionally, it is the least demanding in terms of critical minerals, as reported by the IAEA. Nuclear energy's high energy density also means it requires relatively little land, making it suitable for countries with limited space for nuclear installations.
Cost-effective transition

Dr Paillere acknowledged that while nuclear energy on its own is expensive compared with other renewables such as wind and solar, he urged energy professionals to take a "full system view of the energy system" when evaluating costs.

Research by the IEA and other organisations suggests that transitioning to net zero without nuclear energy would be more expensive. The reason for this is simple, as he explains. "If you have nuclear power in your system, you don't need to overbuild renewables. You don't need as much storage. And you don't need to expand the grid as much as you would have to in a system without."

Nuclear energy's stable production costs are another advantage. This comes with added macroeconomic benefits, including job creation and economic growth.
Reliable and versatile energy source

Dr Paillere also highlighted the technical merits of nuclear energy. It offers reliability, security, and serves as a flexible, clean energy source. Notably, nuclear energy is being used flexibly in France, the US and Germany, although further details were not provided.

In addition to generating low carbon electricity at scale, nuclear energy can also produce low carbon heat and low carbon hydrogen—crucial components for reaching net zero emissions.

Dr Paillere wrapped up the session by emphasising the numerous advantages that nuclear energy brings to the table. These include a secure supply source, stable production costs that would ultimately benefit consumers, the potential for creating high-quality jobs that can compensate for those lost in fossil-based industries, and having the highest green multiplier among low carbon technologies.

These points underscore the vital role that nuclear energy has in advancing cleaner and more sustainable energy solutions.