Nuclear Energy: A Critical Pillar of a Carbon-Free Future - 2021

Nuclear Power Industry

GE Nuclear provided a Positioning Paper on GE’s views on the critical role nuclear energy plays as the world transitions to a carbon-free future with a focus on:

1. Nuclear power’s role in the world’s climate challenge,
2. Maximizing the lifetime output of the existing installed fleet,
3. Innovating the next generation of nuclear power technology,
4. Accelerating new large-scale nuclear power plant projects, and
5. Recommending policies to achieve CO₂ reduction targets

As the world continues to decarbonize the energy sector and strives to attain net-zero greenhouse gases to combat the threat of a warming planet, producing dependable, cleaner power is a global priority. As the most dependable source of carbon-free power generation providing around-the-clock energy supply without interruption, nuclear energy is an important part of the power generation landscape, and it is a critical pillar in the transformation to a carbon-free future. Countries of all sizes are setting their sights on carbon-free nuclear power generation as part of their energy mix to ensure a dependable source of cleaner power with the highest level of reliability, while supporting their own energy security.

With the urgency of the climate challenge, decision makers should ensure nuclear energy is included in the discussion. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear already accounts for 10% of the world’s total global power generation and 25% of all carbon-free power generation today with the United States, France, China, Russia and South Korea generating the most nuclear power. Over the past 50 years nuclear power generation has avoided CO₂ emissions by over 60 gigatons globally—nearly two years’ worth of global energy-related emissions.

GE has been at the forefront of innovation in nuclear power generation since the mid-1950s, providing leading technology and services to our customers since the industry’s early days. In 1957, GE connected its first nuclear reactor to the commercial electricity grid and continues to build on its nearly 65 years of experience having constructed more than 65 reactors in 10 countries. Today, GE’s steam turbine technology operates in 50% of the world’s nuclear power plants, producing 200 gigawatts (GW) for the global grid. We believe best-in-class technology, continued innovation and optimization, as well as a strong regulatory framework are critical to securing a carbon-free future with nuclear energy, following two parallel paths: 

• Maximizing the lifetime output of the existing installed fleet
  
  
• Building new nuclear plants with best-in-class technology 

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