SUMMARY

We are often asked if nuclear energy is renewable and how much nuclear power there is in Europe and if this can help reduce dependency from Russian gas imports.

This article is aiming at giving a quick overview as of today.

HOW ARE NUCLEAR PLANTS DISTRIBUTED IN THE EUROPEAN CONTINENT ?



The United Kingdom is the 2nd country in the European continent with the largest number of nuclear reactors in service (11), after France (56) and ahead of Spain and Belgium (5).

As of December 2021, the 126 nuclear reactors in the European Union were distributed among 13 countries. However, there are significant power production disparities between these countries:

MW capacity per country

France has the largest number of nuclear plants and the biggest production capacity in Europe (approximately 61.4 GW) and the 2nd in the world after the United States (with 56 nuclear reactors in service).

In addition, at least 4 more nuclear reactors are currently under construction in the European Union to fight the energy dependency from Russia.

IS NUCLEAR ENERGY RENEWABLE ?

Nuclear energy is a sustainable energy source but it is not currently renewable.

This is mainly because of the mining of Uranium, the fuel that is required to have nuclear energy.

It is often referred to as ‘clean’ energy because it doesn’t produce carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases when electricity is generated but there are several advantages and disadvantages:

Pros of nuclear energy.

- High capacity factor, making it one of the most reliable energy sources in the world.

- Once built, plants are not so expensive to run.

- Not so much land is required to build a plant, unlike wind and solar farms.

- Very low carbon emissions.

Cons of nuclear energy.

- Radioactive waste (radioactivity waste is predicted to last circa 10,000 years and risks are extremely low).

- Power plants take a long time to be built.

- Power plants are very expensive to build.

- The mining of Uranium-235, which it its main fuel source and which has a limited supply on Earth.

IS NUCLEAR ENERGY THE FUTURE ?

The production of electricity from nuclear energy already accounts for a significant portion of global power production, and it is probably going to do so in the future.

Thanks to improved safety procedures and technology, nuclear energy production risks are far less dangerous than they were decades ago. However, since ageing power plants must be dismantled, we must take into account nuclear power's contribution to the long-term development of a clean power system.

Additionally, compared to energy sources that rely on fossil fuels, nuclear energy is surprisingly inexpensive to produce, incredibly dependable and secure, and also far cleaner.

Of course, there are still dangers and uncertainties associated with nuclear power that some energy experts find unsettling.

Nuclear energy also uses a limited resource on Earth; therefore, the sustainability discussion will undoubtedly continue.

Nuclear power plants are far more effective and clean when it comes to producing energy than gas and coal alternatives.

Many people claim that, in addition to solar, wind, hydro and geothermal energy, we should also invest in nuclear power.

Whichever line of thought you agree on, one thing is clear: our energy system must be improved and restructured immediately.

It's unclear if nuclear power should be used to improve our system, but we do know for certain that renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydro will continue to give their contribution.



Would you like to know more?

Or do you have any questions about one or more of these topics?

Feel free to contact us at hello@bramoenergy.com.