Decarbonisation Dilemma: The Role of Nuclear Energy in Europe’s Net Zero Ambitions

Abstract

On June 24th, 2021, the European Parliament passed the EU Climate Law, legally binding itself to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Central to this challenge is deciding the future role of nuclear energy. While nuclear power is a critical component of the net zero strategies in countries like China and India—valued for its ability to provide reliable, low-carbon baseload power—its use in the EU had declined by 35.2% between 2004 and 2022. This article investigates how the slowdown in nuclear power, driven by safety concerns, waste disposal challenges, and rising costs, may hinder the EU’s path to net zero. It will explore whether advancements in renewable energy generation and energy efficiency can fully compensate for the reduction in nuclear power. Additionally, it will compare the financial costs and feasibility of nuclear power versus renewable energy in the context of meeting the EU’s decarbonisation targets. Finally, the article will assess the challenges of replacing nuclear power’s stable baseload energy production with intermittent renewable sources.