The 'stress test' fig leaf – EU summit should discuss nuclear phase out

Greenpeace briefing - 24 March 2011

This briefing shows that Europe can rapidly phase-out nuclear power while also increasing its climate target to a 30 percent emission cut. It also criticises voluntary stress tests proposed for European nuclear power stations and makes policy recommendations to EU leaders.

Greenpeace energy campaigner Louise Hutchins said: “Governments confronted by soaring energy prices and nuclear risks are right to revise their energy plans. Europe can rapidly replace scores of reactors with safe, clean renewable power and energy efficiency without the need for a dash to coal. Stepping up Europe’s 2020 climate target to 30 percent would further boost a competitive renewable industry and drive the creation of tens of thousands of much-needed European jobs.”

She added: "Nuclear stress tests are increasingly looking like a fig leaf. Since when did nuclear safety checks become voluntary?”

Nuclear phase out – how fast can Europe go?
Nuclear energy provides 16 percent of global electricity and less than six percent of all energy consumed. In the EU, nuclear capacity has declined by 7.6GW in the last decade, while more than 100GW of renewable energy has been installed.

The Energy [R]evolution study from the German Aerospace Centre shows that most of the 48 nuclear reactors built in the EU before 1980, with a total capacity of 34.7GW, can be closed by 2015. The shortfall in energy can be filled by boosting renewable energy and improving energy efficiency. By 2020, 73GW of old nuclear reactors can be closed without compromising CO2 emission reductions of 30 percent compared to 1990 levels.

Following the Japanese nuclear crisis, there has been an immediate closure of seven reactors in Germany. The German Environmental Agency (UBA) has said that the short-term phase-out of these seven reactors can be achieved without any increase of CO2 emissions or using more coal power plants. The UBA estimates that a total German nuclear phase-out is possible by 2017. The German Renewable Energy industry body Bundesverband Erneuerbare Energie (BEE) says renewable energy would be ready to provide 47 percent of German power by 2020, more than compensating for the nuclear withdrawal planned by 2021 at the latest.

ENDS