Post di Massimo Poli

My Sunday digest: Why new nuclear reactors are not financially viable? The cost comparison between nuclear energy and renewable energy sources in Europe reveals several important trends and figures. Nuclear Energy Costs: The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for nuclear power in Europe varies significantly due to factors such as construction costs, regulatory requirements, and financing. Recent estimates suggest that nuclear power can range from €60 to €100 per megawatt-hour (MWh), with some new projects experiencing higher initial costs due to "first-of-a-kind" expenses. These costs are influenced by the need for continuous investment in new units to achieve economies of scale and cost efficiency. Sources: CSIRO releases 2023-24 LAZARD 2023 Renewable Energy Costs: Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power, has seen significant reductions in LCOE over the past decade. In 2022, the LCOE for newly commissioned onshore wind projects in Europe averaged about €30-35/MWh, while utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) projects averaged around €40-45/MWh. Offshore wind remains more expensive, with costs around €80/MWh, but still competitive compared to nuclear. Sources: IRENA 2022 LAZARD 2023 Comparative Analysis: The rapid decline in the costs of renewables has been driven by technological advancements, economies of scale, and supportive policies. For instance, the global weighted average LCOE for onshore wind and solar PV has fallen by approximately 50% since 2010, making these technologies significantly cheaper than new nuclear projects in most cases. Sources: IRENA 2022 European Electricity Review 2024 Moreover, the cost competitiveness of renewables is expected to improve further as technologies advance and production scales up. In contrast, nuclear projects face challenges such as long construction times, high initial capital costs, and stringent regulatory environments, which contribute to their higher LCOE. Sources: Lazard 2023 CSIRO 2023-24. In summary, while nuclear energy provides a reliable and stable source of low-carbon power, the cost advantage increasingly lies with renewable energy sources, particularly onshore wind and solar PV, which are generally cheaper and faster to deploy in Europe. Here below, consistently with the comparative analysis here above, the EDF decision to pull out from the mini-nuclear reactors market, a nice midsummer Sunday’s reading:

Decoupling the energy market from gas price can lower energy bills, slashing over 10 billion pounds from the shoulders of the consumers by simply going renewables! Ministero dell'Ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica magari cerchiamo di imparare qualcosa anche noi da questa lezione di UK. Dale Vince time for you, to go international! Well done Britain, this is the way 🌿 🇬🇧👏💪

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