Fact-Check
Uncheckable: Nuclear energy and climate goals
In the first national election debate, broadcasted by RTL4, leaders of political parties in the Netherlands were asked to take a stance on several important issues.
In the first national election debate, broadcasted by RTL4, leaders of political parties in the Netherlands were asked to take a stance on several important issues.
In the first national election debate, broadcasted by RTL4, leaders of political parties in the Netherlands were asked to take a stance on several important issues. One of the statements, about climate change was: "In order to achieve the climate goals the Netherlands must build new nuclear power plants". Conservative parties such as the VVD, the PVV and the CDA voted in favor. The progressive parties voted against. When asked to explain their view, GroenLinks leader Jesse Klaver claimed that nuclear energy, as a solution for fossil energy, is the biggest lie in this election.
The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty against climate change. The accord was adopted by 196 Parties at COP 21, on 12 December 2015. One of the goals is to limit global warming to well below 2 degrees, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius. To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century.
Nuclear power plants produce no greenhouse gas emissions during operation. During its life cycle a nuclear power plant produces about the same amount of carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions per unit of electricity as wind, and one-third of the emissions per unit of electricity when compared with solar.
Since April 2020, there are 440 operable power reactors in the world, with a combined electrical capacity of 390 GW. Across the European Union are 106 nuclear power reactors operating in 13 of the 27 EU member states that account for over one-quarter of the electricity generated in the whole of the EU. Over half of the EU's nuclear electricity is produced in only one country, France.
Nuclear power has a minimal carbon footprint of around 15-50g CO2/KWh. In comparison the average footprint of gas as energy source is around 450g CO2/KWh. According to the International Energy Agency, nuclear energy currently contributes to the prevention of CO2 emission of about 1.3 to 2.6 gigatons each year.
One kilogram of uranium (U235) generates almost 23 million kWh of electricity: enough to provide nearly seven thousand households with electricity for a year. According to GroenLinks this is no reason to invest in nuclear power plants. In an email, the party explained: "Uranium, which is used for nuclear power generation, will run out over time. Whereas, we can always count on wind and solar energy."
The political parties that are against nuclear power wonder if nuclear power plants are a feasible option to reduce fossil fuel. Their most used argument is that building a nuclear power plant takes a long time and will cost billions of euros. During 1980 and 2000 the time for building a nuclear power plant was 92 months or 7.7 years with a maximum of 10 years. Nowadays building a nuclear power plant will take 41 months, still almost 4 years, due to innovation.
Another argument against nuclear power is radioactive waste. There is not yet a good way to store or process it. Because radioactive waste does not decay and remains on earth for thousands of years, storage is no long-term solution.
With the statement "Nuclear energy is the biggest lie in this election", Klaver expresses his opinion that nuclear energy is not the answer to a zero-emissions future. However nuclear energy as a solution to reduce CO2-emissions is not inherently a "lie". Supporters rightfully point at the low CO2-emissions. But if it will prove to be a solution for meeting the climate goals in the Paris agreement is a very complicated issue. Klaver's statement is as much a prediction as the position of the supporters of nuclear power. And therefore: uncheckable.