THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR POWER

IEA - For more than 40 years, nuclear energy has been an important contributor in several countries to energy security and a key source of zero-emissions generation. But the future of nuclear energy is facing growing challenges, increased competition with renewables and gas and, in some cases, public opposition.

With the aim of identifying the key issues and exploring the future of nuclear power, the International Energy Agency (IEA) held a high-level meeting in Paris yesterday titled "Nuclear Energy: Today and Tomorrow."

The event also brought together ministers and senior government officials from IEA member countries, CEOs and experts to examine the role of nuclear energy in mature power markets and the challenges and future for nuclear energy for energy security, the economy and the environment.

"Nuclear power is continuing to play an important role in electricity security along with other conventional generating technologies," said IEA Executive Director Dr Fatih Birol in his opening remarks. "Despite this, with current policies there is little prospect for significant growth for nuclear power in developed economies on the horizon – although there are new efforts to spur innovations that could change this picture."

Mr Dan Brouillette, the US Deputy Secretary of Energy provided a keynote address also highlighting the importance of innovation in nuclear energy.

"In the United States, we are committed to reviving, revitalizing, and ultimately expanding the use of nuclear energy because we know its benefits," said Mr Brouillette. "We are just starting to see the potential of nuclear power in meeting our energy security needs and our clean energy goals. The advanced reactors, the advanced fuels, and the advanced materials being developed in the U.S., France, and around the world all offer the promise of lessened emissions and increased reliability."

Other speakers included Canada's Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources Kim Rudd, Hungarian Minister János Süli, Jean-Bernard Lévy, the Chairman and Chief Executive of EDF Group, and Jeffrey Lyash, President and CEO of Ontario Power Generation.

The workshop focused on three themes – the challenges of meeting nuclear-specific policy targets while balancing overall economic, environmental and energy security goals, the position of nuclear power in mature power markets, and the potential of nuclear technologies to address future power flexibility challenges and emissions reduction targets.

The sessions highlighted how, under current policy frameworks, and with limited investment in new plants, the contribution of nuclear to the power mix in mature markets is set to decline significantly. Most new construction is in Asia, with China and India accounting for over half of the new reactors under construction. In IEA's World Energy Outlook New Policies Scenario, nuclear power production grows with two countries, China and India, responsible for over 90 percent of net growth to 2040. By contrast, outside of Japan, nuclear power generation in developed economies is set to decline 20 percent by 2040.

-----

Earlier:

2018, June, 29, 10:30:00 URANIUM IS IMPORTANT WNN - For the foreseeable future, most new nuclear power technologies will still run, wholly or partially, on uranium, so it is important that this vital resource is mined, produced and managed sustainably, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Yukiya Amano said this week. It is also essential to take full account of environmental concerns, "both to ensure public acceptance today and to avoid troubling legacy issues in the future", he added.

2018, June, 15, 11:10:00 BP: GROWTH IN ENERGY DEMAND UP BP - In 2017 global energy demand grew by 2.2%, above its 10-year average of 1.7%. This above-trend growth was driven by stronger economic growth in the developed world and a slight slowing in the pace of improvement in energy intensity.

2018, June, 8, 12:30:00 TOKAMAK ENERGY: 15 MLN DEGREES WNN - Tokamak Energy announced today that it has achieved plasma temperatures of over 15 million degrees Celsius, hotter than the centre of the Sun. The Oxford, England-based company turned on its ST40 reactor for the first time in April 2017.

2018, May, 23, 10:10:00 CLEAN NUCLEAR FUTURE WNN - The United States, Canada, and Japan are launching the Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy (NICE) Future Initiative. This global effort will make sure nuclear has a seat at the table during discussions about innovation and advanced clean energy systems of the future.

2018, May, 16, 11:45:00 GLOBAL NUCLEAR ENERGY WNN - Speaking on the opening day of the conference being held this week in Sochi, Russia, Rising said nuclear energy had a vital role to play in the global energy mix, providing a strong foundation of reliable and low-carbon generation to help support more variable clean energy generation options.

2018, May, 4, 15:05:00 U.S. NUCLEAR SPACE WNN - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announced the successful testing of a uranium-fuelled Stirling engine for use in possible future missions to Mars. Testing of the Kilopower reactor - which could be used to provide power to missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond - began at NASA's Nevada National Security Site in November 2017 and was completed in March.

2018, March, 26, 07:50:00 NUCLEAR: MORE ELECTRICITY IAEA - “Nuclear technology helps countries to produce more food, generate more electricity, treat diseases such as cancer, manage water supplies, protect the seas and oceans and respond to climate change — and much more,”