A scientist from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (Boku) in Vienna said Friday that the energy transition to renewable energy sources can be successful both with and without nuclear power. However, neither a complete phasing out of nuclear energy nor a major expansion is realistic. The actual carbon footprint of a nuclear power plant (NPP) is controversial.
In operation, a nuclear power plant produces only very low emissions. However, the situation is different with regard to uranium mining, which can be very energy-intensive, said Nikolaus Müllner of Boku Vienna’s Institute of Safety and Risk Sciences. He gave a lecture at the symposium “Impact Lech” in Lech am Arlberg (Vorarlberg). In the case of uranium mining, the question arises whether renewable energy is used for it or not. A nuclear power plant is in any case not a CO₂-free source.
‘Can use nuclear energy, but don’t have to’
According to Müllner, research shows that an energy-neutral economy in 2050 is also possible if nuclear energy is not used. This is still the case, even if energy consumption increases by then. “You can use nuclear power, but you don’t have to,” said Müllner. If nuclear power had to be replaced, it would account for about two percent of global CO₂ emissions. According to the scientist, this should not change significantly by 2040.
Conversely, if fossil fuels were to be replaced by nuclear energy, emissions could be reduced by as much as 27 percent. However, this scenario is completely unrealistic. It usually takes 20 years from the idea to the completed nuclear power plant. Moreover, according to the scientist, uranium, which is needed for nuclear power plants, will become scarce as thousands of new plants are built. Fourth-generation nuclear reactors can solve the problem of uranium resources, but they do not contribute to the energy transition.
energy literacy
The symposium started on Thursday. Until Sunday, participants are still working on what can be done to embed energy competence in society. This is considered necessary to realize the energy transition.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
