[The Editors' Verdict] Five Reasons Why Nuclear Power Is Crucial for Carbon Neutrality

Carbon neutrality is the key topic in energy policy. The goal is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Our daily lives are covered in carbon. The moment a housewife turns on the gas stove to prepare her family's breakfast, the moment a breadwinner starts the car to go to work, or the moment children turn on their computers to begin their studies, carbon is emitted. It can truly be called carbon addiction. We must stop using carbon, which has been the energy source for civilization development for thousands of years.

Carbon neutrality is a very difficult task. Nevertheless, the whole world is joining the effort because of the climate change caused by humanity's carbon use. Just as carbon use is part of daily life, climate disasters have also become everyday occurrences. The cause is that as the concentration of carbon dioxide thickens, the greenhouse effect raises the temperature of the atmosphere. The remaining time to control climate change is said to be only a few decades.

Carbon neutrality strategies worldwide commonly include improving energy efficiency, conservation, alternative energies such as hydrogen, and the development of carbon capture technologies. The core is expanding the use of electricity and using carbon-free energy for electricity generation. The carbon-free energies humanity has are only renewables and nuclear power. Nuclear power is expensive in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless, nuclear power, along with wind power, is a key part of carbon neutrality strategies. The United States is trying to sustain nuclear power even by providing clean energy subsidies. It is also investing in nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors. The combination of nuclear power and renewable energy can create a flexible carbon neutrality strategy. Abandoning existing means also takes away the choices of future generations. This is the first important reason why nuclear power is crucial for carbon neutrality.

The second reason is the intermittency of renewable energy. Solar and wind power cannot be artificially controlled for electricity production. The traditional way to complement the intermittency of renewable energy is to combine it with gas power generation. Using gas power generation goes against carbon neutrality. Nuclear power inevitably has to take the role of gas power generation.

Third, the transformation of the thermal power industry. Carbon neutrality is putting enormous pressure on changes in the power industry. Especially the operation, manufacturing, and construction sectors of thermal power are being challenged in terms of sustainability. It is difficult for the thermal power industry to transform into the renewable energy industry because of differences in technology, types of facilities, and required human resources. On the other hand, it is easy to convert the thermal power industry into the nuclear power industry. Nuclear power can absorb the workforce of these industries and continue the industrial ecosystem.

Fourth, to cope with trade barriers. The European Union (EU) intends to impose carbon taxes on imports. Carbon neutrality is likely to be used as a trade barrier. Resolving trade barriers is important for our economy, which is highly dependent on exports. Nuclear power is recognized as a greenhouse gas reduction energy source, on par with renewable energy, even in the RE100 campaign that pursues 100% renewable energy. Using nuclear power electricity as well as renewable energy can avoid carbon tax trade barriers.

Fifth, for the renewable energy industry. The competitiveness of the solar power industry depends on electricity prices. Forty percent of the production cost of solar cells, the core of solar power generation, is electricity cost. The reason why the domestic solar company OCI moved its factory to Malaysia is because of cheaper electricity prices. The economic efficiency of nuclear power in South Korea is among the best in the world. Nuclear power can maintain low electricity prices. Nuclear power is necessary for the development of the renewable energy industry.

The best means for carbon neutrality is the expansion of nuclear power and renewable energy. These two are not competitors but complementary partners. True environmentalists who want carbon neutrality must embrace nuclear power.

Jung Dong-wook, Professor, Department of Energy Systems Engineering, Chung-Ang University