Should Nuclear Energy Play a Role in a Carbon-Constrained World?

We summarize the findings of a new MIT study on the future of nuclear energy. The context for the study is the challenge of simultaneously expanding energy access and economic opportunity to billions of people while drastically reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. We find that while decarbonization of the electricity sector can be accomplished employing an assortment of low-carbon technologies in various combinations, nuclear has a uniquely valuable role to play as a dispatchable low-carbon technology, Excluding a dispatchable low-carbon option like nuclear, as the German Energiewende does, significantly increases the cost and difficulty of achieving decarbonization targets. We also find that the high cost of new nuclear plants limits nuclear's role in a balanced portfolio. Reducing this cost can significantly reduce the total cost of decarbonization. Our study identified the factors driving up cost, and we identify promising approaches to achieving cost reductions. Finally, we identify needed government policies. These include decarbonization strategies that recognize the contribution of all low carbon energy technologies and treat them equally in the electricity market. These also include policies to accommodate and support development and demonstration of advanced reactor designs.