The Renaissance of Nuclear Power
The Energy Gang
Wood Mackenzie
4.6 • 1.3K Ratings
🗓️ 27 January 2023
⏱️ 54 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
What’s led the world to restart the stalled atomic engine?
2022 was a year of important milestones for nuclear power. The most significant piece of climate legislation in US history – the IRA – included tax incentives and investment for the nuclear industry. A $15 per megawatt-hour tax credit for production to keep existing plants competitive, as well as $700 million to build a domestic supply chain for modern reactors, was a statement of intent from a government seeking to increase energy security. There is a resurgence of interest in nuclear power around the world. From the support for nuclear power in recent legislation in the US, to the plans for new reactors in France and the UK, to Japan’s commitment to a new generation of advanced nuclear technology.
Soaring prices for natural gas and concerns about energy security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have prompted renewed interest in reliable sources of supply. And at the same time, the international pressure to address climate change has not faded. So, zero-emissions sources have the greatest long-term potential. Diablo Canyon in California, Vogtle in Georgia, as well as major projects planned for Poland and Finland have put nuclear firmly back in the spotlight. How far has safety and efficiency developed in the past decades? What’s driven the industry to restart engine of atomic power, previously stalled for decades?
We’ve had a lot of correspondence to the show about nuclear power, so we’re dedicating the entire hour to the topic. Ed Crooks is back in the host seat, joined by a distinguished panel of guests. We welcome two new faces to the gang: Katy Huff, Assistant Secretary and head of the Office of Nuclear Energy at the Department of Energy and Carl Perez, CEO of Exodys Energy. Also joining the show is Melissa Lott, Director of the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University’s Climate Lab.
It’s a packed show, with discussion on the Biden administration’s strategy for increased nuclear planning, the type of reactors and Exodys Energy’s role in developing the technology, and the challenges to increase nuclear development.
Let us know your thoughts on nuclear – we’re @TheEnergyGang.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, and welcome to The Energy Gang, a discussion show about the false changing world |
| 0:07.9 | of energy. |
| 0:08.9 | I'm Ed Crookes. |
| 0:12.9 | Nuclear will need to be better at deploying on time and on budget. |
| 0:18.6 | Even if those budgets are high, even if those timelines are long, it is going to be worth |
| 0:22.7 | it and it's going to be investable. |
| 0:24.6 | Yeah, it's cool to say that 1 kilowatt hour is really cheap. |
| 0:28.0 | It's great. |
| 0:29.0 | I care about the bill that comes to my house or my business, which is a function of all |
| 0:33.4 | the kilowatt hours that we put on the grid to have 24 seven liable power. |
| 0:37.6 | One of the first challenges I had was explaining that nuclear waste was a problem and although |
| 0:41.6 | it's not a radiological safety problem to the public, it is a social problem, a political |
| 0:47.6 | work. |
| 0:48.6 | Now, we've got something a bit different for you today. |
| 0:52.8 | A single show, all about one subject. |
| 0:55.4 | We've had a lot of feedback from listeners telling us we ought to be talking more about |
| 0:58.4 | nuclear power and its role in the transition to a net zero energy system. |
| 1:02.8 | And on this show, we're nothing if we're not responsive to our listeners, so that's |
| 1:06.2 | exactly what we're going to do today. |
| 1:08.2 | We have an entire show dedicated to discussing the issues around nuclear power. |
| 1:12.7 | And to talk about those issues, I'm very pleased to welcome back our old friend Melissa |
| 1:15.6 | Lot, who's the director of research at the Centre on Global Energy Policy at Columbia |
... |
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