A resurgence in nuclear power is “a matter of fact” given the level of demand for electricity in Europe, Nina Commeau-Yannoussis stated yesterday. The special adviser to Dominique Ristori, deputy Director General of DG Tren, opened yesterday’s debate on “The New Nuclear Wave”, noting that nuclear power will be crucial in meeting the dual challenges of competitivity and climate change in the future.  

Bruno Comby, founder of Environmentalists for Nuclear Energy, and Edit Herczog, of the European Socialists, stated that nuclear is “safe, clean and vital for our future”. Mr. Comby showed data indicating that the current known stocks of nuclear fuel, allowing for reprocessing of up to 95% of used nuclear fuel, could last for “tens of millennia”, and that nuclear power, though a finite resource, is therefore in no danger of running low on fuel.

Monica Frassoni, co-president of the European Greens, refuted this, however, insisting that nuclear energy is limited, providing only 6% of needed energy output, and that the EU should focus resources and investments on renewables. Demonstrating that we are currently in a nuclear decline, she remarked that “even a doubling of current output would not come close to solving our problems”.

Willy de Backer, independent energy journalist, echoed this claim, insisting there will be no nuclear renaissance, but merely a “stop-gap”. Venture capitalists, judiciously investing their own funds, view renewables as the energy source of the future. Our growing energy demand cannot be dependent “on resources that will run out” as is expected of uranium, which provides “a bridge towards renewables”.

Giancarlo Aquilanti, of ENEL, added that nuclear power has recently become competitive, and investment in this field can be justified and encouraged. He claimed that nuclear power is a safe alternative to carbon, with 24% of uranium reserves being held by Australia, ensuring security of supply. As developing countries are increasing their reliance on nuclear power, according to the Commission, this could become an important factor in the near future.
 
In the subsequent debate, these points were revisited. The importance of reducing CO2 emissions came to the fore, with nuclear shown to have lower CO2 emissions levels than other comparable technologies. Jan Haverkamp of Greenpeace raised the issue of nuclear waste disposal, asking that investment be limited to this area, but Georges Vendryes, formerly working in the French nuclear sector, noted that the new generation of power plants will produce dramatic improvements in uranium and plutonium efficiency. Future radiation emanations from properly regulated plants would be negligible. The two sides came no closer to an agreement, despite questioning on this and other issues including the cost of nuclear power for the taxpayer, cross-EU regulation and developments in the fusion sector.

Around 200 people were present, and the discussion, which the EMI had opened through their energy blog, http://www.speakup-energy.blogactiv.eu, continued late into the evening at the ING headquarters.  

Brussels, July 3rd 2008

Downloads:
Nina Commeau PowerPoint
Giancarlo Aquilanti PowerPoint
Bruno Comby PowerPoint