Richard K. Lester reports that a variety of timely forces are inspiring a renewed push for nuclear energy. Here is a proposed roadmap for innovation over the next few decades. The future role of nuclear energy is attracting new attention. Several recent climate policy assessments have concluded that meeting the growing appetite for energy while achieving deep reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions will be impossible without rapid nuclear energy growth, along with massive increases in the deployment of solar, wind, and other low-carbon energy technologies. But if nuclear energy is indeed to play such a role, the U.S. seems unlikely to be much of a factor at this point. Once the undisputed global leader, the U.S. nuclear energy industry is now well on its way to second-tier status.
The new leaders include China and, notably, Russia, whose aggressive nuclear exporters are one of the few bright spots in an otherwise troubled economy. Meanwhile, the U.S. fleet of 99 nuclear power reactors, still the world largest and the source of almost 67% of the U.S. low-carbon electricity, is slowly shrinking. Five operating reactors have recently closed, and several more will be retired in the next few years. As the rest of the nuclear fleet ages, many more reactors seem likely to be shuttered over the next couple of decades because low natural gas prices. The outlook for new reactors is also grim. Four reactors are under construction in the Southeast, and a 5th is being completed after a long delay. There are no firm plans to build more.
High construction costs, an uncertain demand outlook, and the availability of natural gas are the main deterrents to new nuclear investment, and today the nuclear part of the government climate policy amounts to little more than a hope that additional premature shutdowns can be avoided and that some reactors will be able to stay open for longer than planned. Without a more serious federal policy this may be a vain hope, but read on ...
Managed & Built by I2M Consulting, LLC | © 2010-
