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NNWI Forum 2019: Nuclear energy as part of Europe’s energy mix

November 6, 2019 London, UK We were pleased to participate in the NNWI Forum in London. Kirsty Gogan, of LucidCatalyst and Energy for Humanity, was on the panel: "Cutting the cost of new nuclear plants."

The prospects for nuclear energy in Europe are uncertain. Despite the EU 2050 Energy Strategy’s ambitious greenhouse gas reduction targets the European Commission is ambivalent about the nuclear industry. Apart from France, Britain and Finland, the only member states planning new plants are in central and eastern Europe. The Commission’s attitude towards nuclear contrasts with its support for renewable energy. Nuclear is seen as competing against renewables. There’s a risk that the limit to which a modern economy can rely on intermittent energy sources is ignored – with worrying implications for security of supply. Like LucidCatalyst, the New Nuclear Watch Institute believes Europe needs both nuclear and renewable energy to meet its challenging targets. Cuts of 90 percent in greenhouse gas emissions cannot be achieved by 2050 without a significant contribution from nuclear. Global concern about climate change will intensify in the next few years. The Forum addressed these issues directly: recognizing that cost is an obstacle to faster development of new nuclear plant and examining how modern technology and practice can help. It explored the economic benefits of developing new capacity. The Forum was an opportunity to hear from and question industry experts and policy makers, and promoting the exchange of views and information about the future of the nuclear industry in Europe. Its purpose was to secure wider acceptance of the essential role of nuclear in Europe’s energy mix. Topics covered included:

  • Is there a place for nuclear energy in Europe

  • Making the case for nuclear in the energy mix

  • Cutting the cost of new nuclear plants

  • Economic benefits of nuclear

  • A European Green New Deal

Speakers Humphrey Cadoux-Hudson, EDF Energy Jonathan Cobb, World Nuclear Association Sue Ferns, Prospect Peter Fraser, International Energy Agency Kirsty Gogan, LucidCatalyst, Energy for Humanity Mark Hartley, EDF Energy Rauli Partanen, Think Atom Alan Raymant, CGN UK Costis Stambolis, Institute of Energy of South East Europe Tim Yeo, The New Nuclear Watch Institute Keynote speakers Yves Desbazeille, FORATOM Christopher Granville, TS Lombard​ Panel Chairs Nick Butler, Financial Times Jeremy Gordon, Fluent in Energy Peter Hall, Norton Rose Fulbright Adrian Pepper, Pepper Media ​> For more information, see NNWI website

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