Nuclear Will Remain Part Of EU Energy Mix, Says Roadmap
Written by NucNet
Friday, 16 December 2011
Nuclear energy contributes to lower system costs and electricity prices, and as a large scale low-carbon energy option will remain in the EU power generation mix, the European Commission says in an energy policy roadmap published today.
In its ‘Energy Roadmap 2050’ the commission says it will continue to “further the nuclear safety and security framework”, helping to set a level playing field for investments in member states willing to keep the nuclear option in their energy mix.
The roadmap says: “The highest (nuclear) safety and security standards need to be further ensured in the EU and globally, which can only happen if competence and technology leadership is maintained within the EU.
“Furthermore, on a 2050 perspective, it will become clearer which role fusion power will be able to play.”
The roadmap uses various scenarios to describe the consequences of a carbon-free energy system and the policy framework needed. The idea is that the roadmap will allow member states to make energy choices and create “a stable business climate for private investment”.
The roadmap says nuclear energy is a decarbonisation option providing most of the low-carbon electricity consumed in the EU.
Since the accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant in Japan, public policy on nuclear energy has changed in some member states while others continue to see nuclear energy as a “secure, reliable and affordable” source of low-carbon electricity generation.
The roadmap says safety costs and the costs for decommissioning existing plants and disposing of waste are likely to increase, but new nuclear technologies could help to address these concerns.
It concludes that decarbonisation of the energy system is “technically and economically feasible” and that energy efficiency and renewable energy are “critical”.
The roadmap says irrespective of the particular energy mix chosen, higher energy efficiency and a higher share of renewables are necessary to meet the CO2 targets in 2050.
Gas, oil, coal and nuclear figure in all scenarios in different proportions, allowing countries to keep flexible options in their energy mix provided a “well-connected internal market” is achieved quickly.
The Brussels-based industry group Foratom welcomed the roadmap, calling it an important contribution to the energy debate.
Foratom director-general Jean-Pol Poncelet said the nuclear industry “strongly supports” efforts to secure Europe’s low-carbon energy future and is convinced that considerable long-term investment in both renewables and nuclear energy is essential.
