1. Nuclear energy provides a significant amount of global electricity, with 439 operable reactors and 61 under construction.
2. Greenpeace director believes that nuclear power is too slow, expensive, and a distraction from more immediate solutions.
3. The Czech government is investing in new reactors to transition away from coal, with confidence in nuclear as a cost-effective and resilient energy source.
Nuclear energy plays a significant role in global electricity production, providing around 10% of electricity globally and 25% of low-carbon electricity. Despite the growing number of operable and under-construction reactors, opinions on nuclear energy’s effectiveness in the energy transition vary. Greenpeace director Doug Parr criticizes nuclear power as slow, expensive, and a distraction from more immediate solutions. In contrast, the Czech Government is investing €6bn in new reactors to help achieve their goal of generating 50% of electricity from nuclear energy by 2050, as a means to move away from coal.
While some like Parr argue for investment in more immediate solutions like renewable energy, the World Nuclear Association sees nuclear as a vital complement to renewables in achieving carbon neutrality targets. They believe that nuclear energy can provide dispatchable low-carbon energy to balance the grid and address sectors like steel and cement production. However, there are concerns about delays and high costs associated with nuclear projects like Hinkley Point C in the UK, leading to doubts about their long-term viability and impact on the environment.