Nuclear energy offers electricity grids flexibility and enables them to absorb more variable renewable energy sources, IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasised today at the Twelfth Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM12) and Mission Innovation (MI-6) Forum. He spoke at a virtual event that looked at how nuclear power generation can contribute to reducing carbon emissions in the fight against climate change.
Today, nuclear energy plays a critical role in the fight against climate change. A leading source of low-carbon energy, nuclear power generation has over the past decade helped mitigate over two gigatonnes of CO2 emissions per year.
The side event, part of the Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy Future Initiative (NICE Future), brought together thought leaders to discuss how technological breakthroughs and innovations can further nuclear energy’s contribution to climate action and accelerate strategies to cleaner energy.
In a panel discussion gathering perspectives from leaders in the nuclear sector, Mr Grossi was joined by World Nuclear Association (WNA) Director General Sama Bilbao y Léon, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD NEA) Director-General William D. Magwood, IV and International Energy Agency (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol.
Highlighting how IAEA programmes provide advice and technical assistance to countries considering and pursuing nuclear energy, Mr Grossi said developing countries were “showing a tremendous interest and appetite in nuclear energy options as they move into the global climate framework and set zero emission goals.” He said that after agreeing to and endorsing goals to address climate change, governments now needed to look in their carbon mitigation toolboxes, in which nuclear energy is an option.
Today, around 30 countries around the world are considering or embarking on nuclear power to drive sustainable development and reduce carbon emissions. The IAEA through its Milestones Approach provides integrated support to these countries in establishing or expanding safe, secure, and sustainable nuclear power programme. With more countries starting operation of their first nuclear power plants, as well as significant expansion in some countries, total global nuclear capacity is expected to grow despite expected shutdowns of several nuclear power plants in the coming years. New technologies are also expected to contribute in this regard.
Mr Grossi explained that nuclear energy and its innovations are often misconstrued as a future energy alternative, when in reality nuclear already contributes around a third of global low-carbon electricity generation. In November, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP26, world leaders will discuss decarbonisation targets and approaches to align with the goal of keeping average temperature rises to 1.5°C this century. Mr Grossi has urged decision makers to consider nuclear energy as a means to meeting those targets, particularly as an immediate replacement for carbon intensive coal-fired power plants.
