Thread by @janhaverkamp

1/9 The economic top-institute @DIW_Berlin in Germany brought out a new study “Expansion #nuclear power without technical and economic basis”. diw.de/documents/publ… @CKemfert
A little thread about some unsurprising, but for some maybe remarkable findings.

2/9 Unsurprising is the conclusion that #nuclear has priced itself out of the market. Construction costs of current generation III+ would have to be reduced with 2/3 in order to maintain the global 10% market share in power production. But those costs are still increasing.

3/9 #SMRs of the light-water type would need production units of several thousands (per design!) to break even their disadvantage of scale, and that would need global harmonisation of #nuclear regulation. Dreams, dreams…

4/9 #GenerationIV #nuclear reactors appear far too costly to be able to compete even with already existing design nuclear power stations. They will furthermore not be commercially available before 2040 (if ever).

5/9 Comparing @IPCC_CH report SR1.5 (2018) with AR6 (2022) shows a remarkable move away from the use of #nuclear energy in assessed energy scenario’s towards increased growth of wind, sun and water, with also a remarkable increase of scenario’s reducing or phasing out nuclear.

6/9 DIW describes this move as one that is more strongly orienting on realistic economic and technical developments, especially cost developments of solar energy and system integration.

7/9 Conclusion of @DIW_Berlin: Expansion of #nuclear power is risky and economically unprofitable. The emphasis of the nuclear industry should move to decommissioning and radioactive waste management.

8/9 Policies should be oriented on areas that can be expected to deliver substantial contributions to the energy transition, like #renewable energy sources, storage and other flexibility options. #Nuclear energy does not belong to that.

9/9 Attempts to label #nuclear power (including for #hydrogen production) as “green” or “sustainable” should be resolutely opposed. In the planning of the power sector in Germany and Europe, solutions based on subsidising nuclear (like in 🇫🇷 and 🇵🇱) should be rejected.