Climate change is one of the most important issues the world is facing today. Nuclear power can make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, while at the same time fulfilling the increasing energy demands of a growing world population and supporting global sustainable development.
IAEA, an intergovernmental organisation that works for the safe and peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.
The first ever Nuclear Energy Summit that was billed as the most high-profile international meeting on nuclear energy ever , boasting the attendance of representatives from 30 countries, including a few heads of state, was held in Brussels on March 21 2024, organised jointly by the IAEA and Belgium.
This day-long summit was the latest in a series of efforts being made in the last few years to pitch nuclear energy as an important solution to global problems like climate change and energy security.
The meeting was not meant to produce any decisions or finalise any agreement. Rather, it was another attempt to build momentum for a greater acceptance of nuclear energy so which many countries continue to have apprehensions about, and World leaders came together to reaffirm their commitment to nuclear energy as a way to reduce carbon emissions and meet development goals.
Nuclear energy is gaining visibility at COPs
Both climate activists who have been demanding minimal production and use of fossil fuels, and the annual climate conferences, have usually kept away from the nuclear industry and its advocates. But that is a changing.
In recent years, nuclear energy has progressively gained visibility at these conferences. IAEA now participates in them like any other international agency with an observer-like status, organising side events and talks on the potential of nuclear energy.
At COP28 in Dubai last year, representatives from 22 countries, including several that do not currently use nuclear-generated electricity, committed themselves to working together to triple global nuclear energy installed capacity by 2050 from 2020 levels.
This is an extremely ambitious goal, though broadly in line with some pathways projected by the IPCC for achieving global net- zero emission levels by 2050.
The final outcome from COP28 formally acknowledged nuclear energy as one of the zero- or low-emission technologies that should be accelerated to achieve rapid and deep decarbonisation. This was the first time that nuclear energy was mentioned in any COP outcome.
The IAEA has launched an ‘Atoms4Climate’ initiative to talk about this and has begun an engagement with the climate community, especially at the COPs or the annual year-ending climate conferences.
India’s position
India acknowledges the role of nuclear energy in its decarbonisation plan. It is planning for a rapid expansion in the coming years, even though the share of nuclear energy in electricity generation is likely to remain extremely modest in the foreseeable future.
The 23 currently operational nuclear reactors have a combined installed electricity generating capacity of about 7.5 GW. At least 10 more reactors are under construction, and the capacity is supposed to triple to 22.48 GW by 2031-32.
The share of nuclear energy in total electricity generation capacity is just about 3.1%, among the lowest in countries that do use nuclear energy. Even after expansion, this share is not expected to go beyond 5%.
Even India skipped the tripling declaration at COP28. It was not the only nuclear power producing country to do so. But India was a part of the March 21 2024 Brussels meeting, with Department of Atomic Energy Secretary in attendance.
India has firmly of the view that “nuclear power is a clean and environment friendly source of electricity and can provide long- term energy security in a sustainable manner.”
India’s ongoing efforts to triple its current nuclear power capacity by 2030, and aims for nuclear energy to have a “significant share in the electricity mix of India by the year 2047”.
India had the potential, and also the imperative, to grow its nuclear energy sector at a much faster pace. That might be the case. But as our hunger for clean energy increases, the demand cannot be met without getting into nuclear energy in a big way.
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is the world’s second-largest source of low-carbon electricity production (after hydropower), accounting for approximately 30% in 2019.
• In 2021, nuclear power produced 9.8% of total electricity, a 0.4 percentage point reduction from the previous year.
• Nuclear energy increased significantly from 1980 to 1990, nearly doubling, but has decreased since 2000.
Benefits of Nuclear Energy
Clean energy with low carbon footprint. Greenhouse gas emissions range from 5 to 6 grammes per kilowatt hour. This is 100 times less than coal-fired electricity, and almost half the average for solar and wind output.
• Perennial availability: Nuclear power, unlike renewable energy sources like wind and solar, can guarantee a consistent electrical supply regardless of weather conditions.
• Nuclear power generating reduces CO2 emissions by more than 1 billion tonnes annually. Over the last five decades, this has resulted in the avoidance of approximately 70 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
• Nuclear power releases no fine particles, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrates, or phosphates into the atmosphere, making it an environmentally friendly option.
Challenges of Adopting Nuclear Energy
Nuclear waste management is challenging due to extended half-lives and high-level waste generated by nuclear power plants. There are no long-term storage solutions for radioactive waste, so most are stored in temporary, above-ground facilities. As these facilities run out of space, the nuclear industry is turning to more costly and potentially unsafe storage methods.
The most expensive source
Despite these advantages, there has been a serious lack of enthusiasm for the accelerated deployment of nuclear energy. Only 31 countries in the world use nuclear energy for generating electricity. And barely seven more are working towards joining this club.
Nuclear reactors are costly, time-consuming, and subject to numerous regulations,
making them unsuitable for governments seeking speedy and cost-effective electricity generation.
Nuclear reactors have greater initial capital, fuel, and maintenance expenses compared to wind and solar, which can lead to cost overruns and delays in development.
Safety concerns are not the only reason for the poor uptake of nuclear energy in recent years, though those would be some of the most important, particularly after the Fukushima accident. Nuclear power also happens to be the costliest electricity right now.
