The United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the world’s leading authority on climate research, released a report this week on the mitigation of climate change that includes nuclear energy in pathways to net zero.
Last year’s IPCC report alerted a “code red for humanity,” and as we said in “What’s Next for Nuclear in 2022?”, the IPCC reports released this year will continue to inform countries’ actions to address the climate crisis.
While the report continues to drive home the message that human-induced climate change is rapid, intensifying, and a threat to our planet, it also focuses on the solutions that policymakers still have time to act on.
The authors of the report conclude that “nearly all electricity in pathways likely limiting warming to 2℃ or below is from low or no carbon technologies, with different shares of nuclear, biomass, non-biomass renewables, and fossil CCS across pathways.”
This report shows what our options are, and it focuses on two key points:
- We have the tools we need to make a difference in global emissions.
- We need to decarbonize beyond the electricity sector.
Nuclear is Crucial to Decarbonization
The IPCC report joins a growing list of policy frameworks, both domestic and international, that underscore the essential role nuclear energy will play in decarbonization. Nuclear, which provides carbon-free energy 24/7/365, paired with wind, solar, and energy storage, can achieve a reliable, affordable, low-carbon energy system.
Nuclear is our second-largest electric source as it accounts for 20 percent of total U.S. electricity generation and more than 50 percent of our carbon-free electricity. Advanced nuclear is poised to provide the next generation of nuclear technologies, and as states and utilities across the country look to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, they’re looking at new nuclear.
It’s not just at home—countries across the globe are realizing that they can’t reach their net zero goals without nuclear energy. Consistent with the landmark 2018 IPCC report, the authors of the latest report found that holding a global average temperature increase to 1.5℃ requires a doubling of global nuclear energy generation by 2050.
As countries strive to achieve energy independence and security, many continue to recognize that reliable, carbon-free nuclear energy is crucial to their future energy grid, as evidenced by the growing number of countries including nuclear energy in their Long-Term Climate Strategies submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The Czech Republic is pursuing a multi-billion-dollar reactor project that will be the single largest investment in the country’s history. Meanwhile, Belgium is extending their original nuclear plans and keeping their reactors online for another 10 years. France has plans to build 14 next-generation reactors. And these are just a few of many examples.
Global markets are reflecting this robust, international interest in nuclear power. The IPCC found that global investments in nuclear energy generation are projected to average well over $100 billion per year through mid-century.
“As countries strive to achieve energy independence, many are turning to reliable, carbon-free nuclear energy,” said John Kotek, senior vice president of policy development and public affairs at the Nuclear Energy Institute.
“U.S. nuclear energy innovators are well positioned to capture a sizeable share of this market, particularly as the Russian assault on Ukraine has highlighted the necessity of energy security and reliance on trustworthy energy partners.”
Decarbonizing Beyond Electricity
The IPCC report also emphasizes that it is crucial to decarbonize entire economies, not just the electricity sector. Nuclear can help us get there.
Industrial processes and transportation sectors make up 45 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. These industries require large amounts of energy from clean, reliable sources. Both current and advanced reactors are well positioned to meet this demand.
Not only can nuclear designs produce carbon-free hydrogen to create clean fuels, but advanced reactors can also decarbonize heavy industrial processes with advancements in heat, size, and efficiency, which can revolutionize processes like steelmaking and transportation for ships and aircraft.
Both the Biden Administration and Congress see the long-term potential in carbon-free hydrogen production. That is why the bipartisan infrastructure package included a demonstration program for Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs. This initiative builds on a project already underway to demonstrate hydrogen productions at an existing nuclear power plant.
Nuclear energy has a proven track record of decarbonization, and new nuclear will be key to our clean energy future—both for electricity and beyond.
