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Global optimism ‘rising’ about potential of reactors to help achieve net zero emissions Fatih Birol (left) and Rafael Grossi at the International Atomic Energy Agency discussion on nuclear power at Cop27 in Egypt. Courtesy IAEA. Nuclear power is making “a strong comeback”, but the international financial community has so far “failed” to provide the level playing field needed for nuclear to help the world tackle its most pressing challenges, from climate change to sustainable development, International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol told the Cop27 United Nations climate conference in in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

Birol told an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) discussion on nuclear power: “I don’t give them a passing grade.”

“Countries that were saying goodbye to nuclear power, they are rethinking their plans,” Birol said, adding that the IEA had been engaged in talks with both Belgium and Germany.

“We are very happy that both governments are now in the process of postponing their nuclear phaseout plans, understanding the role that nuclear plays in addressing this energy security challenge,” he said.

In addition, another group of countries is now considering extending the lifetime of their existing nuclear power reactors to respond to this challenge, which is one of the cheapest forms of low carbon power, Birol said. Still another group of countries are rolling out plans to build new reactors, including seemingly “surprising” ones such as the Netherlands and Poland as well as Japan and South Korea.

Source: Nucnet
Date: Friday, 11 November 2022
Original article: nucnet.org/news/nuclear-making-strong-comeback-but-financial-community-has-failed-to-provide-level-playing-field-11-4-2022

Brussels-based industry group responds to leaked draft of European commission proposals Nuclear power has been “clearly recognised” as a technology which contributes to climate mitigation objectives and it should be treated in the European Union’s planned taxonomy rules on an equal footing with renewable energy sources, the Brussels-based nuclear industry association Foratom has said.

According to a leaked draft of the bloc’s taxonomy proposals, nuclear will be treated differently to renewables, as a transitional activity, Foratom said. Furthermore, “sunset clauses”, so-called because they have time limits, have been introduced for existing plants and new build projects. Foratom said in a statement on Tuesday: “We do not believe this is the right approach.”

The sunset clauses say that to be taxonomy compliant, nuclear new build projects must receive a construction permit by 2045. For lifetime extensions, the extension must be authorised by the member state by 2040.

Renewables do not have to meet any similar clauses, nor do they have to meet other rules applied to “transitional” nuclear. Those rules include that nuclear does not hamper the development and deployment of low-carbon alternatives and does not lead to a “lock-in” of carbon-intensive assets. Lock-in occurs when carbon intensive systems perpetuate, delay or prevent the transition to low-carbon alternatives.

Source: Nucnet
Date: Wednesday, 12 January 2022
Original article: nucnet.org/news/foratom-calls-for-nuclear-to-be-put-on-equal-footing-with-renewables-1-2-2022