Released June 08, 2020 | GALWAY, IRELAND
en
Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The European Commission (EC) has decided not to include nuclear power in its green recovery plan from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Europe's nuclear industry power body, Foratom, said it "regrets" that the European Commission has ignored the need for "clean, dispatchable and European sources of energy in its green recovery plan" announced recently. It claimed that these "three elements are essential if the European Union (EU) really wants to "decarbonise its economy, create jobs and ensure that citizens, hospitals and businesses have access to the energy they need when they need it."
Yves Desbazeille, Foratom's director general, said: "The Commission has once again ignored Europe's largest source of low-carbon dispatchable energy. Nuclear is a low-carbon European technology, which ensures security of supply and creates jobs in the EU."
According to the World Nuclear Association, the EU depends on nuclear power for one-quarter of its electricity, and a higher proportion of base-load power. Nuclear also provides half of low-carbon electricity. There are 109 nuclear power reactors--107 gigawatts--operating in 15 of the 27 EU member states. Half of the EU's nuclear electricity is produced in only one country--France. However, a growing number of European nations are abandoning nuclear power, led by the EU's largest member state, Germany.
Announcing its new recovery plan, Next Generation EU, the Commission said it would harness the full potential of the EU budget of 750 billion euro ($838 billion) as well as targeted reinforcements to the long-term EU budget for 2021-2027 that will bring "the total financial firepower of the EU budget to 1.85 trillion euro ($2.06 trillion.)"
Among other key pillars of recovery spending, it highlighted the importance of:
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "The recovery plan turns the immense challenge we face into an opportunity, not only by supporting the recovery but also by investing in our future: the European Green Deal and digitalization will boost jobs and growth, the resilience of our societies and the health of our environment. This is Europe's moment. Our willingness to act must live up to the challenges we are all facing. With Next Generation EU, we are providing an ambitious answer."
Foratom stated: "Nuclear energy has a significant European-based supply chain. As a result, it currently sustains around one million jobs in the EU and generates around 450 billion euro ($502 billion) in GDP, which is up to four times higher per unit of energy than for some other low-carbon sources. It must do more to ensure it will achieve its decarbonisation goals. Hydrogen can indeed provide an excellent solution for hard to decarbonise sectors, provided it fulfils three conditions: security of supply, cost-effective production and a very low-carbon footprint. Electrolyser-based hydrogen which runs on electricity supplied by both renewables and nuclear meets these conditions perfectly."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
Europe's nuclear industry power body, Foratom, said it "regrets" that the European Commission has ignored the need for "clean, dispatchable and European sources of energy in its green recovery plan" announced recently. It claimed that these "three elements are essential if the European Union (EU) really wants to "decarbonise its economy, create jobs and ensure that citizens, hospitals and businesses have access to the energy they need when they need it."
Yves Desbazeille, Foratom's director general, said: "The Commission has once again ignored Europe's largest source of low-carbon dispatchable energy. Nuclear is a low-carbon European technology, which ensures security of supply and creates jobs in the EU."
According to the World Nuclear Association, the EU depends on nuclear power for one-quarter of its electricity, and a higher proportion of base-load power. Nuclear also provides half of low-carbon electricity. There are 109 nuclear power reactors--107 gigawatts--operating in 15 of the 27 EU member states. Half of the EU's nuclear electricity is produced in only one country--France. However, a growing number of European nations are abandoning nuclear power, led by the EU's largest member state, Germany.
Announcing its new recovery plan, Next Generation EU, the Commission said it would harness the full potential of the EU budget of 750 billion euro ($838 billion) as well as targeted reinforcements to the long-term EU budget for 2021-2027 that will bring "the total financial firepower of the EU budget to 1.85 trillion euro ($2.06 trillion.)"
Among other key pillars of recovery spending, it highlighted the importance of:
- Rolling out renewable energy projects, especially wind, solar and kick-starting a clean hydrogen economy in Europe;
- Cleaner transport and logistics, including the installation of one million charging points for electric vehicles and a boost for rail travel and clean mobility in our cities and regions;
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said: "The recovery plan turns the immense challenge we face into an opportunity, not only by supporting the recovery but also by investing in our future: the European Green Deal and digitalization will boost jobs and growth, the resilience of our societies and the health of our environment. This is Europe's moment. Our willingness to act must live up to the challenges we are all facing. With Next Generation EU, we are providing an ambitious answer."
Foratom stated: "Nuclear energy has a significant European-based supply chain. As a result, it currently sustains around one million jobs in the EU and generates around 450 billion euro ($502 billion) in GDP, which is up to four times higher per unit of energy than for some other low-carbon sources. It must do more to ensure it will achieve its decarbonisation goals. Hydrogen can indeed provide an excellent solution for hard to decarbonise sectors, provided it fulfils three conditions: security of supply, cost-effective production and a very low-carbon footprint. Electrolyser-based hydrogen which runs on electricity supplied by both renewables and nuclear meets these conditions perfectly."
Industrial Info Resources (IIR), with global headquarters in Sugar Land, Texas, six offices in North America and 12 international offices, is the leading provider of global market intelligence specializing in the industrial process, heavy manufacturing and energy markets. Our European headquarters are located in Galway, Ireland. Follow IIR Europe on: Facebook - Twitter - LinkedIn For more information on our European coverage send inquiries to info@industrialinfo.eu or visit us online at Industrial Info Europe.
