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---------------------- 2245 - Nuclear Power transitioning to wind and solar
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- Toshiba and Hitachi have walked away from UK nuclear power projects forcing the UK government to reassess the pro-nuclear bias of its energy policy. Europe as a whole has recognized that nuclear power is no longer cost competitive with renewable energy.
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- There is easily enough solar and wind energy available to make up for the cancellation of the nuclear projects and to produce the low-carbon electricity required to make the 2030 carbon emissions targets achievable.
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- The country's incentives and regulations favor developing more power plants driven by natural gas which has reduced emissions by over two-thirds since 1990.
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- The UK needs to cut power emissions from about 265grams of carbon dioxide per kilowatt hour in 2017 to under 100grms by 2030. That is by 62% in ten years. The government had been substantially relying on nuclear power to do this, having originally identified eight sites for new plants.
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- Despite much larger government incentives than those available for renewables, most private nuclear builders are now steering clear, having seen the problems with new plants in the US, Japan and France. The only two projects still in progress are a joint venture by EDF of France and CGN of China. Both EDF and CGN are foreign state-owned companies.
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- In 2018, 19% of the UK's electricity was generated by nuclear plants. With most existing plants due to retire over the next few years. Solar and wind generation could easily more than make up for this. Renewables' share of generation has reached 30% in 2018 and is due to reach 35% in 2020.
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- The government provides incentives for renewable energy projects through so-called “contracts for difference” (CFD) auctions in which the most competitive bidders are granted contracts to supply electricity at fixed prices. This year, it is set to auction some new offshore wind farm contracts.
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- With the UK nuclear power plans in tatters, the government is trying to double down on wind and solar. With offshore wind currently providing about 7% of generation. The reason why more renewables are not on the cards is because the Treasury is keen to limit energy incentives.
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- If all 27 gigawatts of offshore wind power schemes in various stages of planning got contracts, it would supply around one-third of the total electricity requirement. Coupled with the remaining nuclear power and the renewables that are already on stream, that would reach the 75% of power that needs to be coming from these low-carbon source by 2030 to achieve the emissions targets. Instead, gas-fired power looks set to supply around half of UK electricity by 2030, compared to 40% at present.
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- One government justification for being less generous to renewables is that unlike gas or nuclear, they do not provide a constant power source. They only generate when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining. Proponents of renewable energy counter that you can reduce the generating capacity required by increasing the use of batteries to store power on the grid and by incentives consumers to use more power overnight when demand is lower.
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- One other option that attracts less attention is that you also get spare capacity from small gas engines or open-cycle turbines. These can be built quickly and would only be sparingly needed in a system mostly supplied by renewables.
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- The government policy is offering large incentives to new nuclear, gas-fired power and also shale gas extraction, but, not many are actually being developed. Meanwhile the cheapest options, onshore wind, solar and offshore wind, are being discriminated against. The collapse of the UK's nuclear power plans should be an opportunity to think again. decarbonising power is instead falling off the agenda.
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- In France similar nuclear power shifts are occurring. France plans to shut down 14 of the country's 58 nuclear reactors currently in operation by 2035, of which between four and six will be closed by 2030.
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- France would close its remaining four coal-fired power plants by 2022 as part of the country's anti-pollution efforts.
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- France relies on nuclear power for nearly 72 percent of its electricity needs, though the government wants to reduce this to 50 percent by 2030 by developing more renewable energy sources.
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- France would aim to triple its wind power electricity output by 2030, and increase solar energy output fivefold in that period. A third of the country's reactors could be shut under plans to scale back the amount of electricity produced from nuclear power.
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- In 2015 a law was passed obliging the government to reduce the proportion of electricity generated from nuclear power from around 75 percent to 50 percent by 2025.
To reach this target France is going to have to close a certain number of reactors.
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- The closures could be as high as 17 reactors. France has 58 nuclear reactors operated by state-owned EDF, which produces some of the lowest-cost electricity in Europe. The country earns around $3.4 billion per year from exports to neighboring countries.
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- The nuclear power network was once a source of national pride, but support fell after the Fukushima plant disaster in Japan in 2011 and the government is trying to encourage the transition to renewable energy technology. Many of the plants were built in the 1970s and 80s in response to oil-price shocks.
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- Nuclear power faces lengthy safety vetting processes, hefty investment and political challenges to gain extensions in its operating life. Renewable energy is challenged to come on line fast enough to fill the gap.
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- Other Reviews available about nuclear power:
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- 2231 - This review presents the dark side of nuclear power in the US, nuclear waste.
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- 2225 - Nuclear Energy in the US is the only cost effective energy source that will reduce green house emissions. All the other sources are evaluated but lack the capacity.
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- 701 - Nuclear energy is ready for a come back in the US. The 400 plants in the world will grow by 168 by 2020.
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- 689 - Nuclear terrorism potential is evaluated.
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- 636 - Iran enriches uranium.
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- January 22, 2019
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-------------------------- Thursday, January 24, 2019 --------------------------
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