Nuclear Power Plants May Be Activated in Various Countries After Escalation of Global Energy Crisis

With The Cut Of Gas Supply From Russia Due To The War, Some Countries Are Considering Reactivating Nuclear Power Plants

The current energy crisis in Europe, given the cut in gas supply from Russia, only highlights that Germany and Belgium jumped the gun when they decided to end nuclear generation at the nuclear power plants.

Since 2011, due to the incident in Fukushima, Japan, the German and Belgian governments have declared themselves against nuclear energy, announcing the closure of some nuclear power plants. However, with the global energy crisis, governments around the world are reconsidering their energy policies to include the construction of new energy reactors.

Nuclear energy from nuclear plants has become a requirement to achieve a clean global energy matrix by 2050. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), without an increase in energy generation from nuclear plants, the potential to reach the net zero carbon proposal by 2050 will cost about US$ 500 billion more, in addition to increasing consumer energy bills by US$ 20 billion per year.

Reactivation Of Nuclear Power Plants Will Help Countries Dependent On Energy From Russia

The reactivation of nuclear power plants will serve as support to meet the energy needs of countries, especially now, in the current energy crisis scenario, such as reservoir depletion, or during times when renewable energies are not as effective, such as at night or when the wind is not strong enough.

Check out the list of countries that are already investing or have returned to investing in nuclear energy:

• Netherlands: plans to build a new nuclear plant, the first since 1973;
• United Kingdom: is building and has also decided to construct a new nuclear plant;
• Poland: has invested in the construction of new nuclear plants;
• Czech Republic: is constructing a new nuclear reactor;
• France: is planning to build and export new nuclear plants;
• Russia and China: are supporting nuclear energy in Africa;
• Diverse countries without nuclear plants are starting their first nuclear reactor projects;
• Japan is reactivating idle nuclear plants;
• Germany: is considering extending the lifespan of its remaining nuclear plants;
• Belgium: is delaying the closure of nuclear power plants;
• European Union: voted to formally recognize nuclear energy as “green”;
• USA: announced US$ 6 billion investments to keep nuclear plants open;
• California: is reconsidering the planned closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear plant.

European Parliament Declares Nuclear Plants As A Sustainable Energy Source

The European Parliament has validated a new set of guidelines that classify nuclear power plants and gas as an alternative for the environment, now declared as a clean and renewable energy source.

The validation came after a series of studies concluded that the fuels produced in nuclear plants can be less harmful to the environment. Gas is a fossil fuel, which is also responsible for polluting emissions; however, when compared to coal, it is a cleaner energy source. Nuclear energy does not produce CO2 gases but emits radioactive waste.

The conclusion reached by the EP is divided, as nuclear plants are not entirely “safe,” because they can emit radioactive materials, which requires extensive training of qualified personnel in the engineering field to avoid potential irreversible accidents.