An Examination of the Future of Nuclear Energy in the Context of Climate Change

This paper intends to explore whether nuclear power plants can serve as a sustainable alternative to thermal power plants powered by coal and natural gas, and as a legitimate and much needed supplement to currently popular sustainable energy sources such as wind, solar, and hydropower.

A brief analysis of the French nuclear system provides historical background to the most significant commitment of a state to the utilization of nuclear energy as a means to produce electricity. Interviews with relevant experts sheds light on mistakes made in the French nuclear project to serve as lessons for future nuclear projects, particularly in terms of maximizing the efficiency of future nuclear power projects.

In the primary analysis of the viability of nuclear energy as a means to produce electricity, a comparison of lifetime greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions provides support for the future utilization of nuclear energy, while a comparison of the overall financial cost of nuclear power will explain the economic complexities involved with investing in the construction of new nuclear projects. Finally, propositions for the future of nuclear energy in the context of reducing GHG emissions in the electricity sector will be provided with additional concluding remarks.