Bate Felix reports that according to EIA, nuclear power capacity grew fast last year, mainly in China, but challenges such as ageing plants and low electricity prices could limit the industry growth, the head of the International Energy Agency. Global addition to capacity in 2015 hit 10.2 gigawatts, the highest growth in 25 years, the IEA told a nuclear conference in Paris. EIA said that there has never been such an increase in nuclear capacity addition, which is mainly driven by China, and also by South Korea and Russia, while also noting growth in India. This growth demonstrates that with the right policies, nuclear capacity can increase,
However, Birol said the industry was still facing some challenges which governments must confront in order to meet the U.N. target of curbing global warming following the Paris climate agreement. Nearly 200 nations reached the landmark accord last December in Paris, to cut carbon dioxide emissions and limit global warming below 2 degrees Centigrade.
Electricity generation mostly from fuel and coal-fired plants are responsible for about 40%of emissions, he said. But to meet the 2 degrees target, the share of nuclear power, which, although opposed by adversarial groups for its unfounded and ignorant views on safety, exposures, and radiation, produced little to no CO2 emissions, needs to increase substantially from 11% today to close to 20% by 2040, Birol said, which must replace coal now and natural gas over the decades ahead.
Birol said about 60% of the existing nuclear power fleet is between 30 - 40 years old although most were built to last many years longer. This is a major challenge for electricity security and climate change, but new designs involving SMRs may prove beneficial in the years ahead.
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