- CO2 reductions: a fresh boost for nuclear?
In an apparent departure from its traditionally hands-off stance on the issue, the Commission is beginning to speak out more publicly in favour of nuclear power as a viable low-carbon source of energy.
"If we want CO2-free energy production in the EU, we actually have three legs: we have renewables, nuclear, and the potential of carbon capture and storage [CCS]," said Matthias Ruete, Director General of the Commission's Transport and Energy department (DG TREN) in an interview with EurActiv.
The EU executive seems concerned that an increase in renewable energy use may not be sufficient for reducing the bloc's carbon dioxide emissions, after EU leaders agreed in March to reduce them by at least 20% by 2020.
"If we phase out nuclear, we may in the end only be compensating the phasing-out of nuclear by renewables, so we will not actually make the gain we want to in terms of CO2", Ruete explained. Assuming one member state reduces its reliance on nuclear energy by 5% while increasing renewable energy use by 5%, "the actual [CO2] equation will be zero," he added.
"We clearly need to see what the other two 'legs' are able to deliver".
Ruete's comments came only days before three of the Commission's most senior members, including EU Competition Commissioner Nellie Kroes, publicly expressed their support for nuclear energy (EurActiv 3/10/07). The comments drew strong criticism from the Greens in Parliament, who argued that Kroes' endorsement of nuclear power "cast serious doubt over her ability to be impartial in decisions on competition matters relating to nuclear energy".
- Waiting for carbon sequestration and storage (CCS)
In addition to nuclear energy, the Commission is also keen to see further progress on CCS as a means of slashing carbon emissions during energy production from fossil fuels.
But high costs and public scepticism are casting doubts on the likelihood of CCS technologies becoming commercially viable in time to put a dent in the EU's CO2 output. "The more we work on CCS the more we realise it is actually expensive," Ruete admitted.
To further encourage investment in CCS-fitted power plants, the Commission is therefore considering a revision of state aid rules that would allow EU countries to support the technology with public funds.
"We need to make sure we have a good framework in terms of state aid and public finance. It is clear that a strong push from the public side is needed in terms of financing CCS," Ruete said, adding that "we need to see whether member states are actually putting their money where their mouth is".
In related news, the European Technology Platform for Zero Emission Fossil Fuel Power Plants (ETP-ZEP) on 3 October launched its flagship programme to get 10-12 industrial-scale CCS demonstration projects operational by 2015, part of commitments made by EU leaders in March.
