New status report confirms: Nuclear power plays an increasingly minor role
The report, written by independent authors, clearly describes that Europe's nuclear energy is at a dead end, even though Europe has the world's largest nuclear reactor fleet: First of all, Europe is dependent on Russia for uranium and fuel elements. Russia is a major global supplier of nuclear fuel services, including uranium mining, conversion, enrichment and fuel fabrication for Soviet-designed pressurized water reactors (VVERs), of which there are 19 in the EU and 15 in Ukraine. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, EU member states imposed sanctions and significantly reduced their imports of oil, coal and gas in order to deprive Russia of its considerable sources of income and reduce Europe's dependence on Russia.
"But in contrast to Russian supplies of oil, natural gas, and coal, the nuclear sector has received little attention", states the WNISR. While the U.S. introduced sanctions on some subsidiaries of Russian governmentcontrolled company Rosatom in April 2023 and banned the import of uranium products from Russia in May 2024, the E.U. did not establish any sanctions in the nuclear sector—a strong indicator of dependency on Russia. Jutta Paulus, environmental spokesperson for the Greens in the European Parliament, commented on the report in no uncertain terms: “Putin is rubbing his hands in glee at the re-emergence of the nuclear debate in Europe. We are still highly dependent on Russia for uranium. This is neither good for the free democratic world nor for our economy.”y Rosatom in April 2023 and banned the import of uranium products from Russia in May 2024, the E.U. did not establish any sanctions in the nuclear sector—a strong indicator of dependency on Russia."
As the status report also shows, the trend is moving in a completely different direction anyway: "The European Union achieved (based on the year 2023) its largest renewable capacity additions ever, and the renewable share in total electricity generation reached 44 percent, exceeding 40 percent for the first time. Solar and wind plants together produced 721 TWh, almost a quarter more than nuclear energy with 588 TWh. Also for the first time ever, non-hydro renewables generated more power than all fossil fuels combined, and wind alone surpassed fossil gas. Fossil fuel production dropped by a record 19 percent, reaching its lowest level ever." Renewables are clearly inferior to nuclear power, not least because of the high costs associated with nuclear power and the construction of new nuclear power plants. As the storage options for renewable electricity are also improving all the time, it is incomprehensible that many politicians still rely on nuclear power and are calling for the construction of new nuclear reactors in Germany.
The WNISR comes to a very clear assessment: "Contrary to widespread perception, nuclear power remains irrelevant in the international market for electricity generating technologies. Solar plus storage might be the game changer for the adaptation of policy decisions to current industrial realities."
It can also be formulated differently and clearly: If nuclear reactors were not used to renew the military nuclear weapons program, the nuclear industry would be finished in a few years.
You can download the World Nuclear Industry Status Report 2024 free of charge here.