Nuclear Is Here to Stay 1. It’s BaseloadU.S.
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Posted On: 04/19/2017 11:41:14 PM
Nuclear Is Here to Stay
1. It’s BaseloadU.S. Electricity Generation by Source 2016
In the electricity world, “baseload” means it’s running all the time. Unlike solar and wind — which are intermittent — nuclear plants are constantly generating electricity. In fact, nuclear energy generated 19.7% (in yellow, right) of all U.S. electricity in 2016. That means if nuclear energy goes away then one in five lights goes out.
2. It’s Clean
Nuclear is the only source of clean baseload electricity. As such, it is emerging as a main tool to fight climate change and is being embraced by environmentalists. As president of the Berkeley-based Environmental Progress group, Michael Shellenberger, will tell you, “I don’t think there’s any way to solve climate change without building more nuclear plants.” And he’s not the only one. A recent letter was signed by more than 70 ecologists and conservation researchers calling for environmentalists to embrace nuclear.
3. China
Because it’s baseload and it’s clean, China is turning to nuclear energy in a big way. Simply breathing the air in Beijing is the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes per day. Switching from coal to nuclear will help fix that. And that’s what China — and India and many other countries — is doing. China has 36 reactors and is currently building 21. It has plans to double its nuclear capacity to at least 58 gigawatts by 2020-21, and then triple that to 150 gigawatts by 2030. In addition to the 21 reactors under construction, China has 40 more planned and 139 proposed.
4. It’s Safe
Despite high-profile incidents, nuclear energy rarely takes human life. It’s like air travel. In fact, nuclear energy generation is safer than solar relative to the amount of electricity it generates. Period.
5. Supply & Demand
Globally, there are 447 operating nuclear reactors. Another 59 are being built right now, with an additional 164 planned and 350 proposed. By 2035 there will be 155 new reactors in operation — a net increase of 35%. A surge of new uranium demand is coming. But recent low uranium prices have led to production cuts, mine closings, and new mine delays.
6. Shortage
With new demand coming and new supply scant, a uranium deficit is expected to emerge, which will cause uranium prices and stocks to surge. The world currently needs about 63,400 tonnes of uranium each year to fuel its nuclear reactors. But it only produces around 57,000 tonnes. So there is technically already a deficit, though it’s currently made up by stockpiles and decommissioning weapons. As the new reactors come online, the stockpiled supply will disappear quickly, and most analysts are forecasting a uranium supply shortage in the next few years. Prices must rise by economic law to correct that.
1. It’s BaseloadU.S. Electricity Generation by Source 2016
In the electricity world, “baseload” means it’s running all the time. Unlike solar and wind — which are intermittent — nuclear plants are constantly generating electricity. In fact, nuclear energy generated 19.7% (in yellow, right) of all U.S. electricity in 2016. That means if nuclear energy goes away then one in five lights goes out.
2. It’s Clean
Nuclear is the only source of clean baseload electricity. As such, it is emerging as a main tool to fight climate change and is being embraced by environmentalists. As president of the Berkeley-based Environmental Progress group, Michael Shellenberger, will tell you, “I don’t think there’s any way to solve climate change without building more nuclear plants.” And he’s not the only one. A recent letter was signed by more than 70 ecologists and conservation researchers calling for environmentalists to embrace nuclear.
3. China
Because it’s baseload and it’s clean, China is turning to nuclear energy in a big way. Simply breathing the air in Beijing is the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes per day. Switching from coal to nuclear will help fix that. And that’s what China — and India and many other countries — is doing. China has 36 reactors and is currently building 21. It has plans to double its nuclear capacity to at least 58 gigawatts by 2020-21, and then triple that to 150 gigawatts by 2030. In addition to the 21 reactors under construction, China has 40 more planned and 139 proposed.
4. It’s Safe
Despite high-profile incidents, nuclear energy rarely takes human life. It’s like air travel. In fact, nuclear energy generation is safer than solar relative to the amount of electricity it generates. Period.
5. Supply & Demand
Globally, there are 447 operating nuclear reactors. Another 59 are being built right now, with an additional 164 planned and 350 proposed. By 2035 there will be 155 new reactors in operation — a net increase of 35%. A surge of new uranium demand is coming. But recent low uranium prices have led to production cuts, mine closings, and new mine delays.
6. Shortage
With new demand coming and new supply scant, a uranium deficit is expected to emerge, which will cause uranium prices and stocks to surge. The world currently needs about 63,400 tonnes of uranium each year to fuel its nuclear reactors. But it only produces around 57,000 tonnes. So there is technically already a deficit, though it’s currently made up by stockpiles and decommissioning weapons. As the new reactors come online, the stockpiled supply will disappear quickly, and most analysts are forecasting a uranium supply shortage in the next few years. Prices must rise by economic law to correct that.
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