Biz News
Nuclear Energy Is Coming Back
The nuclear energy was not in the focus of development recently. It seems that the trend related to nuclear energy is changing worldwide.
Posted: Feb 2012
Despite the fact that nuclear disaster in Fukushima turned the energy strategy of the countries away from nuclear energy, it seems that this trend will last shortly. Recent problems with energy and growing demands that are expected in the near future are making the changes in the energetic strategies in US and Europe.
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission approved the plan for building the nuclear reactor, 30 years after previous approval. NCR approved the Southern Corporation from Atlanta to build two new reactors, as an extension of Votgle nuclear plant in Georgia. The new reactors are expected to be operative between 2016 and 2017.
This approval was given, despite the concern about threats of nuclear disaster, such as Fukushima disaster. The US didn't build any nuclear reactor since 1979 disaster on Three Miles Island in Pensylvania, caused by partial meltdown of the nuclear reactor core.
It seems that the climate related to nuclear energy changes in the Europe as well. Germany decided to reactivate 5 backup reactors. After the Fukushima disaster Germany decided to shut down 17 reactors. 5 reactors, that were conserved to be a back up capacity, will be reactivated.
This change of trend in energy sourcing can be understood from the growing demand and increasing prices of electricity in the market. The price of MWh on European market was € 76 to € 89 until the beginning of the February 2012.
The increase of electricity consumption, caused by extremely cold and snowy weather, launched the prices to the sky. Mid February prices are between € 118 and € 165.
The extreme increase of the electricity price could be temporary, due to winter conditions. Still, global trends of increase of electricity consumption are working in favor of nuclear energy.
