Nuclear Energy Could Be the Backbone of Future Low Carbon Energy Systems
Nuclear sees renewed interest amid the energy crisis and climate concerns, thanks to the value propositions it offers. R Preyadharisene and Niu Yihao report.
In the updated net zero emissions (NZE) scenario, as outlined by the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear energy stands as the linchpin for change. It has to double its capacity by 2050, ultimately making up 8 percent of global low carbon electricity.
As we embark on the path to net zero, Mr Henri Paillere, Head of Planning and Economic Studies Section, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), acknowledged that there would be increased reliance on wind and solar energy, accounting for up to 60-70 percent of the energy mix. However, he was quick to emphasise that "nuclear power also has a very important role. We consider it to be a backbone of future low carbon energy systems". This comment was made at the SIEW TechTable on 25 October, on Nuclear: Atoms4NetZero, the Contribution of Nuclear Energy to Net Zero Transitions.
Mr Paillere articulated three core value propositions that underpin nuclear's significance in supporting the net zero transition, namely:
The environmental rationale
From a comprehensive lifecycle perspective, nuclear technology is the least carbon-intensive of all low carbon technologies. It also boasts one of the lowest usage of critical minerals.
Additionally, its high energy density translates to an exceptionally low land footprint, which Mr Paillere said was "a benefit for countries looking at installing nuclear power, but have a limited land mass".
The economic rationale
In terms of levelised cost of electricity, nuclear energy may appear costlier compared with other sources of clean energy such as wind or solar. However, Mr Paillere pointed out that the IAEA, various technical experts, and research organisations agree that achieving a net zero future without nuclear could be more difficult and expensive. Hence, a holistic systems view is needed when assessing energy transition strategies from a cost perspective.
He elaborated: "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."
Mr Paillere also highlighted that nuclear production costs remain stable since these are not affected by uranium price fluctuations, offering macroeconomic benefits such as job creation and economic growth.
Security rationale
Nuclear energy is a reliable and secure source of energy which could provide baseload generation while maintaining flexibility. Contrary to common misconceptions, "people often think that nuclear is a non-baseload source of power, but there are countries like France that use nuclear power in a very flexible way”, he said.
These power plants can not only produce large-scale low carbon electricity, but also play a pivotal role in generating low carbon heat and low carbon hydrogen. This is especially important in addressing hard-to-abate industrial emissions which make up two-thirds of total emissions.
Nuclear for energy access and security in Southeast Asia
Several Southeast Asian countries, including Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, have announced their intentions to develop nuclear programmes.
This renewed interest is driven by the energy crisis that we saw in the last two years, reminiscent of the oil shock of the 1970s. After the shock, a number of countries, including France, accelerated their nuclear energy programmes to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. As a result, they became more self-sufficient as nuclear fuel can be stored for several years.
With growing interest in pursuing nuclear as a source of clean energy, governments must also ensure that the economic opportunities created by nuclear are accessible to local communities, fostering equitable growth and development.