BENE
Better Environment with Nuclear Energy
for cheap, clean, reliable and safe electricity
Nuclear is a cheap fuel
EirGrid commissioned a study into low-carbon options for Ireland.
The study, conducted by the international consultant Poyry, showed that no technology could produce cheaper electricity for the domestic customer than nuclear power.
The above table shows that our economic choices rely on Gas, Nuclear or CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage), as all the renewables options are much more expensive. However, using Gas will not allow us to meet our Greenhouse Gas reduction targets, and CCS is not yet developed. The need to consider Nuclear becomes obvious in this light.
The SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) commissioned international consultants McKinsey in 2009 to conduct Ireland’s Low-Carbon Opportunity Study. Although not featured in the main text, there was an analysis of the relative cost of nuclear power in the Technical Appendix. Here is an extract:
“Although the possibility of including a nuclear power plant in the generation portfolio is not considered in the reference abatement case, the Technical Appendix does briefly analyse an alternative scenario in which a 600MW nuclear plant is constructed to replace Moneypoint coal-fired station in 2025. Compared to coal-biomass firing with CCS, the technology appears to be a relatively inexpensive abatement option. However, this may underestimate the full societal cost, since the analysis does not include a detailed consideration of network system requirements such as spinning reserve. Nor does it include any set-up costs for security enforcement, safety inspection, or the storage and disposal of spent reactor fuel.”
The caveat above is not dissimilar to the other scenarios considered, however.
The cost abatement curve below is from the Technical Annex of the above Report).
This table clearly shows that nuclear power (for around €16 per ton) would be one of the cheapest means of reducing our CO2 emissions. This is much cheaper than the cost using substantial amounts of wind, or wave, tidal or other renewable source.
Quick references
Advantages of nuclear
Find out more about the advantages of nuclear power in Ireland:
Nuclear power is the safest electricity
New nuclear power is ideal for Ireland
Supporters of nuclear in Ireland
Many Irish organisations have called for nuclear power to be considered here. (These links to external sites open in a new window).
Political supporters of a debate
Calls for a national nuclear debate have come from (external sites open in a new window):
Minister for Energy, Eamon Ryan
Dáil Joint C’tee on Climate Change
Exploded myths about nuclear
These facts may surprise you:
Reactors would fit the Irish grid
There is a solution for nuclear waste
Other information
General items of interest about nuclear:
IRIS - a suitable reactor for Ireland
Nuclear power is illegal in Ireland
Can we not just use Renewables?
