World Nuclear Association Blog

It takes time to plan and build a nuclear power plant. For that reason some people mistakenly say nuclear power isn't the right answer to combatting climate change because carbon dioxide emissions reductions are needed urgently.

Of course this doesn't make sense as soon as one considers the 441 reactors currently in operation that are already avoiding the emissions of two and a half billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, compared to coal.

But are people right to say that to get any additional savings from nuclear would take a long time because plans for any new reactors would have to start from scratch? Again the plain answer is no. There are around 60 new nuclear power plants already under construction and due to come into operation over the next few years. When operational, these plants will help avoid the emissions of another 400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year. To save the same emissions from wind power you would need around 75,000 2MWe turbines.

Even more immediate emissions savings can be made through operating those reactors already in operation for longer. For some this is through lifetime extensions, and already many nuclear power plants have started or plant to operate beyond their initial expect lifetimes.

For other nuclear plants additional generation, and therefore emissions savings, come from changes in political policy. One recent example of this is the reversal of the short-lived nuclear phase-out plans in Germany, as reported recently by WNN.

The new policy in Germany will see nuclear power plants operating for between 8 and 14 years longer. The additional greenhouse gas emissions savings from these extended operations will save a total of 1,800 million tonnes of CO₂, compared to coal fired generation. 

(Taken from WNA's Nuclear Power in Germany Profile)

For more information on how nuclear energy can help combat climate change please check out our Nuclear Energy and Climate Change page.