European Scientists Say Nuclear Must Be Among ‘Three Pillars’ Of Supply
Written by NucNet
Tuesday, 13 July 2010
Rising demand for electricity in Europe will have to be met by the energy industry’s “three technology pillars” of coal and gas, renewables, and nuclear energy, a scientific advisory board says.
In a 32-page report on power plant operations for the future, the scientific advisory board of VGB PowerTech – the technical association of heat and power producers in Europe – says the European power supply must incorporate all these energy sources to meet the goals of environmental protection and security of supply.
The report says research for future power plant technologies should be intensified and grid improvements and power storage will play the key role for the further integration of renewables.
On nuclear energy the report says Generation IV high temperature reactors are the only available CO2-free high-temperature energy source (apart from power generation purposes) for chemical transformation processes such as the production of hydrogen by hot steam electrolysis or the production of synthetic fuels such as methanol from coal.
The report says renewables can, because of their supply characteristics, be regarded as “secured power” only to less than 10 percent of their installed capacity. This would mean that as long as sufficient energy storage does not exist renewables could substitute fuels, but not power plants. Back-up-capacity would still neeed for load control and grid stabilisation.
VGB PowerTech’s scientific advisory board is an independent body which supports the association in research, development and education. It is comprised of 30 experts from eight European countries, representing all fields of power production.
The report, Power Plant Options for the Future - Power Plants 2020+’, can be downloaded online
