2022-01:Atom(ausstiegs)politiken in EU und USA

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Atom(ausstiegs)politiken in EU und USA

fb As of July 1st, 2021 the EU27 provided with 106 reactors in operation the world’s biggest installed nuclear capacity, closely followed by the USA with 93 reactors. Considering the countries, thus, the USA had the biggest nuclear fleet, followed by France (56 units) and China (53 units). The electrical output in the United States was composed of 19.7 % of nuclear energy, in the EU its share was 24.8 %. In the EU 2020 for the first time non-hydro renewables generated more electricity than nuclear power. Obviously, for both EU and USA atomic power is a meaningful energy source (Schneider et al. 2021: 302, 354, 394)⁠.

However, fossil energy still constitute the major share of energy in both regions if considering the primary energy consumption. In the EU fossil fuels with 69.3 % dominated the gross inland energy consumption (based on 2019 figures). In the US they constituted even 79 % (based on 2020 figures) (EIA 2021; eurostat 2021a)⁠.

Nuclear Energy Status and Perspective

In the European Union atomic energy is highly disputed: 13 members operate nuclear power plants with four of them phasing-out (Germany, Belgium, Spain, Sweden); 14 members have no reactors in operation with one (Poland) pushing for a nuclear program (.ausgestrahlt 2019: 24; eurostat 2021b)⁠. Last year, three reactors were closed (Fessenheim-1+2, Ringhals-1), while four ones have been under construction (Olkiluoto-3, Flamanville-3, Mochovce-3+4) – by one decade or more delayed, with cost overruns by up to six times (Neubauer 2008; Schneider et al. 2021: 75, 77–80, 84, 93, 355)⁠. Many EU countries will eventually close the chapter of nuclear electricity within the next decades due to the increasing aging of their reactor fleet (average age in the EU: 35.9 years) and a lack of economy preventing new installations (Schneider u. a. 2021: 354 ff.)⁠.

These disputes are currently reflected in the struggles about the inclusion of nuclear power in the EU Taxonomy. Several EU and national bodies as well as expert groups published analyses on the issue, most concluding nuclear power not feasible at all to be considered a sustainable energy source. However, the Joint Research Centre, involved to several atomic projects, claimed nuclear energy not more harmful than other technologies already included. Several countries put pressure on the European Commission in support or in objection of nuclear power. By the end of 2021 the Commission is expected to take a decision (Pistner/Englert 2021; Schneider et al. 2021: 38–41)⁠.

In the United States during last few years, we can notice the decline of nuclear energy, too. In 2021 two reactors were closed, one in Iowa (Duane Arnold-1) and another one in the state of New York (Indian Point-2). Almost all nuclear reactors in the USA have an age between 31-40 years (46 units) or 41-50 years (41 units), but only one is younger than 10 years. The usual initial nuclear plant lifetime is 40 years in the USA, which was extended by 20 more years already for 85 of the reactors in operation, but a 2017 NRC policy makes additional 20 years more possible, so reactors could operate up to 80 years – 6 units already received this license (Schneider et al. 2021: 147, 149–150)⁠.

The Biden administration is intending to reduce the US gas emissions by supporting nuclear power, especially with the Zero-emission Nuclear Power Production Credit Act suggested to the U.S. Congress in June 2021. This could lead to a tax credit of US$15/MWh helping struggling nuclear power plants to avoid closure (WNISR 2021: 148). Two reactors are still under construction with construction costs more than quadrupled: units 3 and 4 of the Vogtle project in the state of Georgia (WNISR 2021: 147, 155 f.). So, on the one hand, nuclear power in the US is decreasing because reactors had to be shut down, but on the other hand, the Biden administration is trying to prevent this by developing new measures and providing financial support (Congress 2021; Schneider et al. 2021: 147–148, 155–161)⁠. The main difference between the nuclear policy approaches of EU and USA is that the European Union shows great disunity on the future of the atomic technology, while in the United States much more is possible for this industry due to a lack of a nuclear phase-out policy. Therefore, closures of reactors in the USA are usually caused by their low economy, sometimes combined with protest impacts. In the EU the member’s nuclear policies are quite contrary, but as long as no state subsidies are provided for nuclear power, its utilization will overall – likewise due to economic reasons – coast down, with some countries shortening this respective horizon with particular phase-out policies.

Conclusion

We found several similarities between European Union and United States of America: Both want to transform their energy systems to reduce greenhouse gas emissions towards zero. Both are still strongly dependent on fossil fuels and both maintain the hugest atomic reactor fleets in the world, while experiencing a continuously decreasing nuclear industry. Differences can be seen on the one hand regarding the concreteness and ambitiousness of their climate policies where the European Union currently presents greater plans. Concerning nuclear power, on the other hand, the European Union shows great disunity on the future of this technology, while in the United States much more is possible for this industry due to a lack of a nuclear phase-out policy. Therefore, closures of reactors in the USA are usually caused by their low economy, sometimes combined with protest impacts. In the EU the member’s nuclear policies are quite contrary, but as long as no state subsidies are provided for nuclear power, its utilization will overall – likewise due to economic reasons – coast down, with some countries shortening this respective horizon with particular phase-out policies.

Literatur

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