The accelerating decline of French nuclear power

[kristopher]

The accelerating decline of French nuclear power

For most people with any interest in energy issues, France is synonymous with nuclear power. With 78% of its electricity generated by the atom, it is by far the most nuclear-dependent country in the world. It’s state-owned flagship Electricite de France is the world’s largest nuclear utility. State-owned Areva is one of the largest nuclear reactor manufacturers in the world.

When nuclear industry lobbyists–anywhere in the world–try to find a success story for their technology, they invariably point to France.

But more rapidly than could have been imagined even five years ago, pointing a finger at France doesn’t evoke nuclear success. Rather, France, whose nuclear industry is in speedy and accelerating decline, today exemplifies the failure of nuclear power. Moreover, a closer look at France reveals where the world is headed: to a clean and surprisingly affordable nuclear-free and carbon-free energy system.

If that kind of energy future can come to France–and it increasingly appears that it will and sooner than might be expected–then it can come everywhere...

http://safeenergy.org/2015/05/14/the-accelerating-decline-of-french-nuclear-power/#more-13373

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. The other paragraph I think is most important in that article -

After the French debate was completed and put into legislative form, however, a new report leaked out. The government tried briefly to prevent its release, but that didn’t work. The report shows that France–like just about every other nation in the world–can get to 100% renewables by 2050, and can do so affordably. Indeed, it would cost virtually no more, and perhaps even less, than keeping nuclear at 50% of French generation.

[madokie]

2. I could not welcome this more.

nuclear was a pig in a poke from the start. If not for the bomb and giant subsities from us we'd not have a single nuclear power plant today.

TVA is finishing up on the latest one here and the scary part is its technology from the '70s and its been laying fallow and was cannibalized for years. I worry

[Gregorian]

3. Huge forgings versus the simplicity of most renewable energy conversion methods

Also, the nuclear is a grand scale operation, whereas photovoltaics can operate individual users (even if not always the most efficient way).

I sort of get a good feeling from this since this ends up being a topic of debate with an engineer college buddy. Some are still calling for nuclear as of crucial importance with respect to climate change, but I think the world is better nuclear free.