The role of new nuclear power in the UK's net-zero emissions energy system
Loading...
Access rights
openAccess
publishedVersion
URL
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä
This publication is imported from Aalto University research portal.
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
Other link related to publication (opens in new window)
View publication in the Research portal (opens in new window)
View/Open full text file from the Research portal (opens in new window)
Other link related to publication (opens in new window)
Authors
Date
2023-01-01
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
12
Series
Energy, Volume 262
Abstract
Swift and deep decarbonisation of electricity generation is central to enabling a timely transition to net-zero emission energy systems. While future power systems will likely be dominated by variable renewable energy (VRE) sources, studies have identified a need for low-carbon dispatchable power such as nuclear. We use a cost-optimising power system model to examine the technoeconomic case for investment in new nuclear capacity in the UK's net-zero emissions energy system and consider four sensitivity dimensions: the capital cost of new nuclear, the availability of competing technologies, the expansion of interconnection and weather conditions. We conclude that new nuclear capacity is only cost-effective if ambitious cost and construction times are assumed, competing technologies are unavailable and interconnector expansion is not permitted. We find that bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and long-term storage could reduce electricity system costs by 5–21% and that synchronous condensers can provide cost-effective inertia in highly renewable systems with low amounts of synchronous generation. We show that a nearly 100% variable renewable system with very little fossil fuels, no new build nuclear and facilitated by long-term storage is the most cost-effective system design. This suggests that the current favourable UK Government policy towards nuclear is becoming increasingly difficult to justify.Description
| openaire: EC/H2020/730403/EU//INNOPATHS Funding Information: This work was supported by the INNOPATHS project, which received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 730403 , and by the EPSRC SUPERGEN Energy Storage Hub project ( EP/L019469/1 ). Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Authors
Keywords
Net-zero energy system, Nuclear power, Power system, Variable renewable energy
Other note
Citation
Price, J, Keppo, I & Dodds, P E 2023, ' The role of new nuclear power in the UK's net-zero emissions energy system ', Energy, vol. 262, 125450 . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2022.125450