Climate Central Solutions Brief: Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy and its Role in the Future Energy Mix

Nuclear power plants generate around one-fifth of electricity in the United States and about 10% globally. Nuclear power is a low-carbon energy source that can be dispatched alongside variable renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind; as such, it is often cited as a complement to renewables on the path to a decarbonized economy. However, risks and concerns associated with nuclear power’s costs, construction time, proliferation potential, and safety have influenced its development.

Nuclear Energy Basics

• Nuclear energy is produced through fission—a process that breaks the bonds between subatomic particles in the nuclei of some weakly-bound isotopes of heavy elements, such as Uranium-235 (U-235). Fuel enriched in the U-235 isotope is most commonly used in U.S. nuclear reactors.
• Fission releases substantial energy that can be captured as heat to produce steam that drives turbines to generate electricity. Fission produces long-lived radioactive waste, in spent fuel as a byproduct, that requires safe long-term storage.

High-capacity, low-carbon energy source

Nuclear power plants are operated with high capacity factors—which means that they are operated on average at 90% or more of their maximum capacity during a typical year. This is a primary reason that nuclear power is often cited as a reliable companion to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind—nuclear electricity can be available whenever those variable renewable sources are not.

Fission does not produce greenhouse gases and therefore does not contribute to global warming, unlike combustion of the fossil fuels (i.e., coal, oil, and natural gas) that are currently the predominant source of electric power in the U.S. and worldwide. Although there are greenhouse gas emissions from the life cycle of nuclear electricity production, such as from uranium mining and processing, these emissions are far less than from fossil fuel-based generation. The International Energy Agency estimates that global nuclear energy helps to avoid nearly 1.5 billion metric tons of carbon pollution each year.

In 2022, nuclear power generated about 772 million megawatt-hours (MWh) or 18% of U.S. electricity—compared to around 22% from renewable energy sources and 60% from fossil fuels. (Renewable electricity generation surpassed nuclear generation in the U.S. for the first time in 2021, and globally in 2019.)

During 2022, there were 93 operational nuclear reactors at 55 power plants located across 28 states, with a total of more than 99,000 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity (the maximum instantaneous amount of electricity that can be generated by the equipment).

The largest single facility is the Palo Verde nuclear power plant in Arizona, which has a generation capacity of around 4,200 megawatts (MW) from three reactors. Palo Verde produced roughly 31,943,000 MWh of electricity in 2022—equivalent to the amount used by more than 3 million average American homes in a year.

Overall, Illinois is the state with the most nuclear capacity—around 12,400 MW from 11 reactors at 6 power plants. Nuclear power plants in Illinois produced roughly 98,870,000 MWh of electricity in 2022.

An aging U.S. nuclear fleet

The active U.S. nuclear fleet is aging and shrinking, as some reactors are closing without new reactors to replace them. As a consequence, the quantity of electricity generated by nuclear facilities is declining in the U.S.

The average age of operational U.S. nuclear reactors is around 40 years, or roughly halfway through the 80-year maximum potential lifespan for a nuclear facility under current regulations. (The initial license for a nuclear facility lasts 40 years, but operators can apply for two 20-year extensions. The vast majority of operating reactors in the U.S. have been granted at least one 20-year extension; but only two have been fully granted license renewals to extend operations for a total of 80 years.)

Facilities that reach the end of their operational lifespans go through a process known as decommissioning (permanently ending operations and restoring the site to its original condition) that can take decades to complete. More than two dozen reactors are currently undergoing decommissioning across the country.

Challenges to nuclear energy growth

• Cost issues and delays: Nuclear energy construction projects have often experienced delays and cost overruns—some projects have taken decades to complete, with costs climbing significantly along the way. By contrast, the costs of renewable energy technologies have fallen substantially in recent years. As a result, the economic competitiveness of building additional nuclear plants is uncertain, particularly when life cycle costs are compared with those of other low-carbon energy sources. Continued operation of already-constructed plants, however, is favored by some climate activists to minimize current CO2 emissions from the electricity sector.
• Radioactive waste management: Spent nuclear fuel, which is a byproduct of nuclear energy, requires safe long-term storage. Current methods of storage are only interim solutions, and the development of permanent disposal facilities has faced significant challenges and public opposition.
• Operational safety: While the vast majority of nuclear power plants have operated safely for decades, high-profile incidents such as Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima have heightened public concerns about safety.
• Public opinion: Public opinion on nuclear energy remains mixed, influenced partly by safety concerns and the desire for local input on siting decisions.
• Security risks: Nuclear facilities can be vulnerable to sabotage and theft of nuclear materials, raising concerns about security measures.

Advances that may support nuclear in the future energy mix

Near- and long-term technological advances could help nuclear power remain in the U.S. energy mix, particularly if the industry is able to reduce costs, shorten construction timelines, and gain public support.

• Emerging technologies: Small modular reactors and Gen IV reactors: Small modular reactors (SMRs) are emerging designs for nuclear reactors, intended to reduce costs and operate more safely than large, traditional reactors.

  SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

  • SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
  • SDG 13: Climate Action
  • SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

  • SDG 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
  • SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning.
  • SDG 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure.

  3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

  • Capacity factor: The article mentions that nuclear power plants are operated with high capacity factors, which can be an indicator of the share of renewable energy in the energy mix (SDG 7.2).
  • Greenhouse gas emissions: The article discusses how nuclear power does not produce greenhouse gases and helps to avoid carbon pollution, which can be an indicator of integrating climate change measures into national policies (SDG 13.2).
  • Generation capacity: The article provides data on the generation capacity of nuclear power plants in different states, which can be an indicator of developing sustainable and resilient infrastructure (SDG 9.1).

  Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

  SDGs	Targets	Indicators
  SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy	Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix (7.2)	Capacity factor
  SDG 13: Climate Action	Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning (13.2)	Greenhouse gas emissions
  SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure	Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure (9.1)	Generation capacity

  Note: The table includes one indicator for each target, but there may be additional indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

  Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

  Source: climatecentral.org

   

  

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