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17.12.2015_No225 / News
MEPs Warn Of ‘Major Gap’ In Electricity Mix As Nuclear Plants Close Print this page!
17 Dec (NucNet): Out of 132 commercial nuclear reactor units in EU member countries 130 are due to be decommissioned by 2050, leaving “a major gap” in low-carbon baseload power in the EU electricity mix, says a resolution passed this week by MEPs.

The non-legislative resolution, passed by 403 votes to 177, with 117 abstentions, says while some member states have chosen to move away from nuclear power, others are looking to develop new nuclear power projects to meet national and EU energy and climate objectives.

The resolution calls on the European Commission to ensure the EU “provides an enabling framework” for those member states that wish to pursue new nuclear power projects to do so.

Nuclear power is “one of the most important contributions of the European energy system”, providing for lower CO2 emissions while simultaneously limiting import dependence, securing a stable production of electricity that can serve the internal market, and provide a stable base for an energy system where renewables can be phased in, the resolution says.

The resolution notes that nuclear power provided 27 percent of the EU’s electricity mix and over half of all EU low-carbon power in 2014.

In the resolution, MEPs say the EU’s proposed energy union must provide citizens with “secure, sustainable and affordable energy”. Building the energy union will demand concerted efforts by EU countries to reduce their dependence on energy imports, by integrating their energy markets, improving security of supply, making the best use of existing and renewable sources, and moderating demand, they add.

The resolution points out that to successfully balance the internal market, investment is needed not only in interconnectors but also in national grids, fossil fuel power plants fitted with carbon capture technology, new nuclear power plants as a critical source of low-carbon baseload power, storage capacity such as LNG terminals, smart grids and flexible generation.

Czech MEP Evžen Tosenovsky of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group said parliament agreed that the common energy market must be the cornerstone of the energy union. “However, market rules must be supported by solidarity mechanisms when member states face a dominant energy supplier.”
Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers):
Reviving Energy Investment A Priority, Says EU Energy Union VP (News in Brief No.222, 10 November 2015)
Source:
NucNet
Editor:
David Dalton

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