Nuclear Reactors 181 - International Energy Agency Issues Report on Nuclear Cooperation in the European Union
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has just issued a report that recommends that incentives be offered to support the construction of new nuclear reactors to assist European Union members in reducing their carbon emissions. In its own words, "The IEA is an autonomous organization which works to ensure reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 29 member countries and beyond. The IEA's four main areas of focus are: energy security, economic development, environmental awareness, and engagement worldwide."
The IEA report encouraged cooperation across the E.U. on uprates, safety upgrades and extensions of the lifetimes of existing nuclear power reactors in order to achieve the highest safety standards and regulatory stability. The report suggested that appropriate incentives be created for member states who "wish to maintain the nuclear option as part of the energy supply diversity and security". The report stated that the EU should work to with member states on the problem of disposal of radioactive waste and the creation of regional repositories for permanent waste disposal.
The IEA report praised the E.U. for progress in liberalizing energy markets and said "global leadership on climate change is to be commended, but there remains much room for improvement." The IEA is lobbying for what they refer to as an "Energy Union" across the whole E.U. There has been integration in the northern and western sections of the E.U. but the report said that much work needs to be done to integrate the rest of the member nations in to the "Energy Union." The report criticized the energy market distortion that is being caused by regulated prices and rising surcharges and levies for green energy.
In October of 2014, E.U. leaders met and agreed to major climate change and energy targets that should be met by 2030. Now the challenge is to build the legal framework with rules to create a low-carbon system. This transition is going to be difficult because the electricity and transport sectors highly dependent on fossil fuels. The IEA executive director said that the proposed Energy Union should not represent "a buyer's cartel" but should "feature an integrated energy market and effective climate and energy policies." She said that the E.U. needed to "better pool its resources" in order to enhance both energy security and competitiveness of its industry in the internal energy market.
The IEA report said that the EU grid and market needed to be able to incorporate electricity generated by variable renewable energy. In addition, almost half of the existing nuclear power reactors in the E.U. will have to be retired in the next ten years which will required a great deal of planning and funding. The report says "Energy security must be placed at the centre of the Energy Union. In order to reduce dependency on one single supplier, the EU must further diversify gas and oil supplies, and cannot afford to reduce its energy options: nuclear, coal and unconventional gas and oil will need to be part of the mix."
