If the entire life cycle of a nuclear plant is included in the calculation, nuclear energy certainly comes out ahead of fossil fuels like coal or natural gas. How climate-friendly is nuclear compared to other energies? Jacobson, director of the Atmosphere / Energy Program at California's Stanford University, calculated a climate cost of 68 to 180 grams of CO2/kWh, depending on the electricity mix used in uranium production and other variables. However, other studies have come up with similar results when considering entire life cycles. Mark Z. It should be noted, however, that WISE is an anti-nuclear group, so is not entirely unbiased. In one life cycle study, the Netherlands-based World Information Service on Energy (WISE) calculated that nuclear plants produce 117 grams of CO2 emissions per kilowatt-hour. Studies that include the entire life cycle of nuclear power plants, from uranium extraction to nuclear waste storage, are rare, with some researchers pointing out that data is still lacking. New power plants, for example, generate more CO2 during construction than those built in previous decades, due to stricter safety regulations. It's long been assumed that nuclear plants generate an average of 66 grams of CO2/kWh - though Wealer believes the actual figure is much higher. A report released in 2014 by the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), for example, estimated a range of 3.7 to 110 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour (kWh). 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. All the studies reviewed by DW said the same thing: Nuclear power is not emissions-free. "Taking into account the current overall energy system, nuclear energy is by no means CO2 neutral," they said.īen Wealer of the Technical University of Berlin, one of the report's authors, told DW that proponents of nuclear energy "fail to take into account many factors," including those sources of emissions outlined above. The group came to a very different conclusion. ENCO was founded by experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency, and it regularly works with stakeholders in the nuclear sector, so it's not entirely free of vested interests.Īt COP26, environmental initiative Scientists for Future (S4F) presented a paper on nuclear energy and the climate. "The main factors for its choice were reliability and security of supply, with no CO2 emission," it read. In late 2020, it released a study prepared for the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy that looked favorably at the possible future role of nuclear in the Netherlands. ![]() Among them is Austrian consulting firm ENCO. Dismantling nuclear power plants - as seen here in Mülheim-Kärlich, Germany - also produces CO2 Image: Thomas Frey/dpa/picture allianceĪnd yet, interest groups claim nuclear energy is emission-free. And, last but not least, nuclear waste also has to be transported and stored under strict conditions - here, too, emissions must be taken into account. The long and complex construction process of nuclear power plants also releases CO2, as does the demolition of decommissioned sites. When it comes to nuclear, uranium extraction, transport and processing produces emissions. In fact, no energy source is completely free of emissions, but more on that later. ![]() Nuclear energy is also responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Is nuclear power a zero-emissions energy source? In recent weeks, particularly during the COP26 climate summit, advocates have been creating a stir online with statements like "if you're against nuclear energy, you're against climate protection" and " nuclear energy is about to make a comeback." But is there anything to it? The energy sector continues to be the largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with a share of 40% - and rising.īut what about nuclear? Supporters of the controversial energy source say it's a climate-friendly way to generate electricity. At the very least, it's something we could use until we're able to develop comprehensive alternatives. Most observers expected a rebound this year - but not to such an extent. In 2020, emissions dropped 5.4% due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns. 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. The latest figures on global carbon dioxide emissions call into question the world's efforts to tackle the climate crisis.
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