Mobile Hamburger Menu

Publications

03/Publications

NEA – The Cost of Decarbonisation: System Cost with High Shares of Nuclear and Renewables

The report, published by the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), evaluates the strategies and costs for the decarbonization of the electricity system in the OECD countries in accordance with the climate targets set by the Paris Agreement. The focus of the report is to explore the various energy portfolio scenarios in which nuclear energy, wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) energy are used at different rates and to identify the potential technical and economic challenges associated with the transition to a low-carbon generation system, which targets only 50 grams of CO2 emissions per kilowatt in each scenario.

While recognizing the potential of renewable energy technologies, the report highlights the cost-effectiveness of a nuclear-based electricity generation portfolio to achieve the goal of decarbonization. It is advocated that the future integrated electricity generation portfolio will be supported by distributed low-carbon technologies such as nuclear energy or fossil-fuel power plants with carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) in addition to wind and solar energy. However, it is also underlined that there are a number of challenges in the use of nuclear power plants, from grid connections to nuclear waste management. The report concludes that climate goals can be achieved with the right policy framework and energy production portfolio.

For more information please visit: 

https://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_15000/the-costs-of-decarbonisation-system-costs-with-high-shares-of-nuclear-and-renewables?details=true