Viewpoint: Scientists urge commitment to nuclear in clean energy growth

More than 40 nuclear associations representing over 80,000 scientists have called on the Clean Energy Ministerial Conference - which will be held in Vancouver between 28 and 29 May - to commit to doubling public investment in nuclear-related R&D and innovation within the next five years. Their declaration was signed yesterday at the International Congress on Advances in Nuclear Power Plants, in Juan-les-Pins, France.

Perspectives 14 May 2019

Viewpoint: A long future for France’s nuclear fleet?

France set out its energy transition roadmap in the recently proposed PPE plan. Included are challenging targets to gradually reduce the country's reliance on nuclear generation. Pierre George, senior director, and Claire Mauduit-Le Clercq, director, EMEA Utilities at S&P Global Ratings, explain the implications for France’s nuclear future and for the country’s sole nuclear operator, EDF.

Perspectives 23 April 2019

Viewpoint: Sharing knowledge in European radwaste management

All countries in Europe have a common interest in ensuring that radioactive waste management is done in a way that guarantees safety and security today and also in the long term, writes Charles McCombie, president of Arius Association.

Perspectives 12 April 2019

Viewpoint: Finland seeks to streamline licensing

Finnish power companies are looking for ways to streamline licensing and qualification processes through a new project started last year called KELPO. The first part of the project has been completed and it is moving ahead to the pilot phase, writes Tuomo Huttunen, senior advisor on nuclear power at industry group Finnish Energy.

Perspectives 08 April 2019

Viewpoint: The benefits of sustainable decommissioning

With the anticipated increase in decommissioning-related activities over the coming decades, significant challenges lie ahead. By viewing nuclear back-end management through a sustainability lens, a set of principles that offer tremendous benefits for a wide range of stakeholders emerges, writes Kristina Gillin, a principal consultant in nuclear waste and decommissioning at Lloyd's Register. 

Perspectives 08 March 2019

Viewpoint: Why we need nuclear power

Policymakers have unreasonably and unfairly overlooked the role of nuclear energy in the fight against climate change, writes Borislav Boev, a PhD student at D. A. Tsenov Academy of Economics in Bulgaria.

Climate change and its effects on Earth continue to be a hot topic in the media these days. A lot of organisations, both international and governmental, claim that they are putting their best efforts into tackling the issue of greenhouse gas emissions.

Perspectives 04 March 2019

REVIEW: Planning ahead for decommissioning

Nuclear plant decommissioning is simpler, faster, and less expensive when taken into consideration during the siting, design, construction, and operation phases of the nuclear plant life-cycle. This is also true for radioactive waste management.

Perspectives 22 February 2019

Viewpoint: Studying the cost of decarbonisation

Since 2012, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency has produced very useful reports on the cost of electricity generation with the aim of finding the most efficient and least expensive ways of decarbonising the energy system. The Paris-based organisation recently presented the conclusions of its latest report, The Costs of Decarbonisation - System Costs with High Shares of Nuclear and Renewables, which was published on 25 January. Philippe Costes, senior adviser at World Nuclear Association, here presents his review of the document.

Perspectives 30 January 2019

Viewpoint: Why the USA should partner with Africa to deploy advanced reactors

There is growing interest in nuclear power across several African countries. The USA could be more engaged to create more equitable and sustainable deployment of clean nuclear power on the African continent, write Jessica Lovering and Kenton de Kirby of the Breakthrough Institute.

Perspectives 11 January 2019

Viewpoint: The logic of nuclear power for Central Asia

Many observers were surprised this year when Uzbekistan announced its decision to build a nuclear power station, which will be the first in Central Asia in the last 30 years, writes Jurabek Mirzakhmudov, director general of UzAtom, the state nuclear agency which was established in July.

Perspectives 27 December 2018