The Contribution of Nuclear Energy to a Sustainable Energy System : Policy brief in the CASCADE MINTS project
report
This report provides an overview of the main results from the scenarios analysed in the CASCADE MINTS project to assess the role of nuclear energy in solving global and European energy and environmental issues. Two contrasting scenarios have been analysed, comparing the impacts of a phase-out of nuclear power capacities to a situation where conventional nuclear power plants achieve a 25% investment cost reduction, both under a rather strong climate policy. Two main conclusions can be drawn. First, the analyses have shown that a nuclear phase-out in Europe is feasible, even in a future with a strong climate policy. However, in this case, renewables, natural gas and advanced coal-fired plants with CCS are key options, and achieving climate goals is more costly. Consequently, the dependency on natural gas imports would increase even further than already expected in a business as usual scenario. Secondly, nuclear energy could be an important component of carbon mitigiation strategies, ubder the condition that the risks related to reactor safety and proliferation are dealt with or accepted, and that long-term solutions for the disposal of radioactive waste are found. With the assumption that carbon prices reach a level of 100 Euro/tonne CO2 in 2030, nuclear power plants could somewhat reduce the import dependency of natural gas, and could contribute to up to 50% of Western Europe's power generation mix
TNO Identifier
866317
Collation
13 p.