EFL White Paper - Nuclear in the UK
File(s)
Author(s)
Moustafa, Nadine
Rhodes, aidan
Wyn Owen, Megan
Type
Report
Abstract
A growth globally in population and living standards is driving an increase in energy consumption worldwide. The drivers for energy include essential large-scale power generation, industrial activity, and increased transportation capabilities. These activities come with staggering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, exacerbating the already significant cumulative totals which are resulting in a global rise in temperature. Currently, the main sources for global electrical energy generation comes from thermal power using coal and natural gas followed by hydro-electric plants, nuclear power with remaining energy being produced from biomass, geothermal, wind, solar and marine energy.
Nuclear energy is a low-carbon source of electricity production and is the second largest source of low carbon electricity production globally after hydropower. Nuclear power accounts for 10% of the world’s electricity generation and 18% of electricity in OECD countries. Almost all reports from governments and organisations consider nuclear power as required to create a sustainable future energy system. An IEA report published in 2022, concluded that achieving net-zero targets globally will be significantly harder and more expensive without nuclear energy. The UK currently generates ~15% of its electricity from about 6.5 GW of nuclear capacity. However, most existing capacity will be shut down in the next 10 years. Where current government plans have ambitions for nuclear power to reach 25% of electricity production. Hence there is a need to investigate current and future nuclear power technologies, their technology readiness level, costs and required policy and funding mechanisms to enhance nuclear power generation and ensure British energy security. This research evaluated the prospects for new nuclear power generation to provide a significant proportion of UK generation, showing a rigorous, evidence-based evaluation of realistic timescales, costings and funding mechanisms and required skillsets and collaborations.
Nuclear energy is a low-carbon source of electricity production and is the second largest source of low carbon electricity production globally after hydropower. Nuclear power accounts for 10% of the world’s electricity generation and 18% of electricity in OECD countries. Almost all reports from governments and organisations consider nuclear power as required to create a sustainable future energy system. An IEA report published in 2022, concluded that achieving net-zero targets globally will be significantly harder and more expensive without nuclear energy. The UK currently generates ~15% of its electricity from about 6.5 GW of nuclear capacity. However, most existing capacity will be shut down in the next 10 years. Where current government plans have ambitions for nuclear power to reach 25% of electricity production. Hence there is a need to investigate current and future nuclear power technologies, their technology readiness level, costs and required policy and funding mechanisms to enhance nuclear power generation and ensure British energy security. This research evaluated the prospects for new nuclear power generation to provide a significant proportion of UK generation, showing a rigorous, evidence-based evaluation of realistic timescales, costings and funding mechanisms and required skillsets and collaborations.
Date Issued
2024-06-24
Citation
The Future of Nuclear in the UK: Challenges and Opportunities, 2024, pp.1-74
Publisher
Energy Futures Lab
Start Page
1
End Page
74
Journal / Book Title
The Future of Nuclear in the UK: Challenges and Opportunities
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2024 The Author(s)
Subjects
energy
nuclear
Publication Status
Published online