Context: At the COP28 climate meeting 22 nations, including the US have pledged to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050, In a bid to attain a net-zero emissions status.
22 Nations Pledge to Triple Nuclear Energy Capacity by 2050
- Tripling nuclear energy capacity from 2020 to 2050, recognizing the key role that nuclear energy can play in keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial times, and in ensuring net-zero transitions.
- At the COP28 event, the IAEA director general also announced that the Nuclear Energy Summit would be held in Brussels in March 2024.
- India, in keeping with its position not to join alliances outside the COP process, is not a part of the nuclear energy commitment in line with its earlier stand not participating in tripling renewable energy.
Net-Zero Emissions:
- Net zero means cutting greenhouse gas emissions to as close to zero as possible, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere, by oceans and forests for instance.
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About Nuclear Energy:
- Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons.
- This energy source can be produced in two ways:
- Nuclear Fission: when nuclei of atoms split into several parts
- Nuclear Fusion – when nuclei fuse together.
- The nuclear energy harnessed worldwide today to produce electricity is through nuclear fission, while the technology to generate electricity from fusion is in the R&D phase.
What is the current global status of nuclear energy?
- According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about 370 GW of operational nuclear power capacity is installed in 31 countries, providing about 10 percent of the world’s total electricity.
- A tripling would see this go up to at least 1,000 GW.
What is the Status of Nuclear power capacity in India?
- The present installed nuclear power capacity in India is 7480 MW comprising 23 nuclear power reactors (July 2023).
- The share of nuclear power in the total electricity generation in the country was about 2.8% in the year 2022-23.
- The installed nuclear power capacity is set to increase from 7480 MW to 22480 MW by 2031 on progressive completion of projects under construction and accorded sanction.
Nuclear Power and Climate Change
- Nuclear power is a low-carbon source of energy because unlike coal, oil or gas power plants, nuclear power plants practically do not produce CO2 during their operation.
Source: Indian Express
December 6, 2023