[E-rundbrief] Info 1806 - EU-Energy Plan 2050 with Nuclear Power

[Matthias Reichl]

E-Rundbrief Info 1806 - NucNet: European Commission Announces 2050 
Energy Plan With Nuclear Onboard.

Bad Ischl, 4.12.2018

Begegnungszentrum für aktive Gewaltlosigkeit

www.begegnungszentrum.at

================================================

Source : NucNet

https://www.nucnet.org/all-the-news/2018/11/28/european-commission-announces-2050-energy-plan-with-nuclear-onboard

European Commission Announces 2050 Energy Plan With Nuclear Onboard

28 Nov 2018: The European Commission has published a new strategy 
document calling for the European Union to achieve net-zero greenhouse 
gas emissions by 2050, with nuclear playing a role in the effort.

The EC strategy for a climate neutral Europe by 2050 recognises 
nuclear as one of the carbon-free energy sources in the EU’s energy 
mix but warns that the future of nuclear energy will largely depend on 
both the technological developments and the regulatory field.

The strategy forsees a 12% to 15% share of nuclear energy in power 
generation by 2050 as compared to about 26% today and 18% in 2030.

The document said installed nuclear capacity in 2050 will be between 
99 GW and 121 GW, or “only slightly lower” than the current level of 
120 GW.

The EC said nuclear can play a role in reducing the dependence on 
fossil fuel energy imports in Europe because nuclear fuel supply is 
well-diversified and fuel can be stockpiled in reserves worth 2-3 
years of consumption.

The EC also said that although nuclear power could contribute to 
decarbonisation in member states that opt for it, nuclear investments 
currently remain a challenge in the EU, due to the up-front costs and 
lack of certainty in electricity market prices.

According to the strategy, the importance of long-term operations 
(LTO) is expected to increase in the coming years, and by 2030 the 
majority of the fleet would be operating beyond its original design 
life. LTO is expected to represent the majority of nuclear investment 
in the short to medium term, the EC said.

Overall, the EC strategy calls for 80-90% reduction of greenhouse gas 
emissions in Europe’s electricity supply by 2050 coming from increased 
energy efficiency and electricity generation from renewable sources.

The share of renewables in electricity production is expected to be 
between 81% and 85% in 2050, compared to 57% in 2030 and 30% in 2015, 
the EC said. Among renewables, wind energy will represent about 56% of 
total generation, up from 26% in 2030 and 9% in 2015.

The EC said large-scale deployment of renewables will lead to more 
electrification and decentralisaition in the EU economy, with the 
share of electricity in final energy demand doubling by 2050.

In 2016, the EC published its latest Illustrative Programme for 
Nuclear Energy, known as Pinc, where it saw a 20% nuclear share in 
electricity generation by 2050.

The EC estimated at the time that electricity generation from nuclear 
will decrease by 2025 due to the phase-outs of nuclear energy in 
certain member states, but the trend would reverse after 2030 with 
generation capacity reaching between 95 GW and 105 GW by 2050.

In a recent study Brussels-based industry group Foratom said the EU 
needs a 25% nuclear share in electricity generation to ensure citizens 
and industry have access to low-carbon electricity and to reduce the 
economic burden of the transition to a low-carbon economy on consumers.

The study focused on three nuclear capacity scenarios by 2050: a low 
scenario with 36 GW of installed nuclear capacity, medium (103 GW) and 
high (150 GW).

Installed nuclear capacity in the EU today is around 120 GW, with 126 
commercial reactor units in 14 member states.

The EC’s strategy for a climate neutral Europe by 2050 is online: 
http://bit.ly/2KDqswh

-- 

     Matthias Reichl, Pressesprecher/ press speaker,
     Begegnungszentrum fuer aktive Gewaltlosigkeit
     Center for Encounter and active Non-Violence
     Wolfgangerstr. 26, 4820 Bad Ischl, Austria,
     fon: +43 6132 24590, Informationen/ informations,
     Impressum in: http://www.begegnungszentrum.at