Emissions by Nuclear Energy

Q What is the context  ?

A Supporters of the Nuclear Energy source say that it is a climate-friendly way to generate electricity. However, this is subjected to various considerations often not discussed.

Q Why focus on Nuclear Energy?

A 

• The main factors for its choice were reliability and security of supply.
• The latest figures on global carbon dioxide emissions call into question the world’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis.

Soaring CO2 emissions

• CO2 emissions are set to soar 4.9% in 2021, compared with the previous year, according to a study published earlier this month by the Global Carbon Project (GCP), a group of scientists that track emissions.
• In 2020, emissions dropped 5.4% due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns.
• The energy sector continues to be the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with a share of 40% and rising.

Q Is nuclear power a zero-emissions energy source?

A Nuclear energy is also responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.

• Uranium mining: Uranium extraction, transport and processing produces emissions.
• Construction of power plants: The long and complex construction process of nuclear power plants also releases CO2, as does the demolition of decommissioned sites.
• Nuclear waste and its transportation: This also has to be transported and stored under strict conditions — here, too, emissions must be taken into account.
• Water consumption: Power plants depend on nearby water sources to cool their reactors, and with many rivers drying up, those sources of water are no longer guaranteed.

Q How much CO2 does nuclear power produce?

A 

• Results vary significantly, depending on whether we only consider the process of electricity generation, or take into account the entire life cycle of a nuclear power plant.
• A report released in 2014 by the IPCC estimated a range of 3.7 to 110 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour (kWh).
• It’s long been assumed that nuclear plants generate an average of 66 grams of CO2/kWh.

Q How climate-friendly is nuclear compared to other energies?

A 

• If the entire life cycle, nuclear energy certainly comes out ahead of fossil fuels like coal or natural gas.
• But the picture is drastically different when compared with renewable energy.
• Nuclear power releases 3.5 times more CO2 per kilowatt-hour than photovoltaic solar panel systems.
• Compared with onshore wind power, that figure jumps to 13 times more CO2.
• When up against electricity from hydropower installations, nuclear generates 29 times more carbon.

Q Can we rely on nuclear energy to help stop global warming?

A 

• Around the world, nuclear energy representatives, as well as some politicians, have called for the expansion of atomic power.
• Other countries have also supported plans to build new nuclear plants, arguing that the energy sector will be even more damaging for the climate without it.

Q How feasible is  Nuclear Energy ?

A 

• High cost of construction: Due to the high costs associated with nuclear energy, it also blocks important financial resources that could instead be used to develop renewable energy.
• Renewables are better: Those renewables would provide more energy that is both faster and cheaper than nuclear.
• High water consumption: During the world’s increasingly hot summers, several nuclear power plants have already had to be temporarily shut down due to water scarcity.

Q What can be Way Forward ?

A 

• Taking into account the current overall energy system, nuclear energy is by no means CO2 neutral.
• The contribution of nuclear energy is viewed too optimistically.
• In reality construction, times are too long and the costs too high to have a noticeable effect on climate change. It takes too long for nuclear energy to become available.