World Energy Council (WEC), the world's multi-energy organization, released a report on Tuesday in London, highlighting the role of nuclear power development in Europe.

The 135-page report titled "Role of Nuclear Power in Europe" is the result of a one-year study aiming to clarify the conditions nuclear energy should meet to be re-integrated into the European electricity market. It dwells on the future of energy supplies, the economic competitiveness of energy sources and the associated environmental impacts, which are people's major concerns.

With the world population expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, WEC forecast that global energy consumption will double every year while demand for electricity is to triple.

However, the report points out, there are solid economic reasons to support the development of nuclear power in Europe. " For existing plants the economics behind nuclear power look particularly attractive considering that planned lifetime extensions, capacity increases and license renewals can further reduce costs."

What is more, nuclear power can offer environmental advantages. "If carbon dioxide emissions were ever penalized, nuclear would be a particularly competitive alternative," said the report.

As for waste management, which seems to cause most of the controversy, the report said, "The actual amount of spent nuclear fuel produced globally every year is approximately 12,000 tons. Therefore, compared to the 25 billion tons of greenhouse gas released annually from fossil fuels directly into the atmosphere, the amount of waste is relatively small. Were spent fuel to be reprocessed, the figure would be even lower."

Alessandro Clerici, chairman of the study, emphasized the importance of public support in launching a new generation of nuclear power plants. "Nuclear energy has long been viewed with unease and there is concern over safety, proliferation and waste. More accessible and accurate information is needed to ensure that consumers understand that nuclear power is one realistic option for electricity production in Europe today," he added.

Source: Xinhua