Energy ministers met in Brussels on Tuesday. With regard to the end of the combustion engine, the compromise reached between Berlin and Brussels at the end of the previous week was approved. Vehicles with combustion engines can only be registered in the EU after 2035 if they are fueled exclusively with synthetic fuels (e-fuel).
The situation is quite different with nuclear power. The question is what role nuclear power should play in phasing out fossil fuels. France and some other countries are calling for nuclear energy to be classified as “green”, giving it the same benefits as solar and wind power.
Blockades for and against nuclear power
Climate Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) spoke vehemently against the request on Tuesday: “It is absolutely clear that nuclear power and renewable energy cannot be equaled,” she said. Together with ten other EU countries, Austria launched the “Friends of Renewable Energy”, as Gewessler put it in Brussels. Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland, Latvia, Estonia and Luxembourg will be present.
On the other side is the block around France and “Low Carbon”, which includes the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Finland and Bulgaria. Nuclear energy “allows us to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, it produces less CO2 than photovoltaic and wind energy. And it is an asset for Europe, an economic asset, an asset also in terms of jobs and an asset in terms of climate,” said Frenchwoman Agnes Pannier-Runacher on Tuesday.
“Strategic” Technologies
France’s push for nuclear power affects several EU projects. The “Fit for 55” package was released last year. It sets the target that EU countries must produce at least 40% of their energy using renewable sources by 2030. If Paris has its way, nuclear energy must also be included. France covers 70 percent of its energy needs with nuclear energy and plans to build at least six new nuclear power plants by 2050.
Portal/Wolfgang Rattay Wind power and nuclear power on par when it comes to climate protection? A dispute broke out between EU countries over this issue.
Two weeks ago, the EU Commission tabled a draft Net Zero Industry Act. The aim is to promote climate-friendly technologies, and the path towards this is to lead, among other things, to easier access to subsidies and faster approval processes. Nuclear energy appears in the text, which generated criticism from environmental defense agencies. Unlike photovoltaics, wind turbines and batteries, for example, are not listed as a “strategic” technology.
No money for struggling nuclear power plants
Nuclear energy is therefore worthy of support only under special conditions, as EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the EU summit in Brussels last week: “Nuclear energy can play a role in our efforts to decarbonize”.
Very advanced nuclear energy technology can therefore be considered emission-free and “access to some simplified rules and incentives” if used for strategic technologies such as solar cell production, battery production or hydrogen production. “Ultra-modern nuclear energy is therefore suitable for certain areas, but not for all”, emphasized von der Leyen.
debate
What fate awaits the internal combustion engine?
If this continues, it would mean that France would not receive any funding for its existing nuclear power plants. However, money is urgently needed. France’s nuclear reactors are considered out of order, half of the country’s 56 plants had to be taken off the grid briefly last year for repair and maintenance work. Added to this, the extreme drought that last summer caused a lack of cooling water and limited the operation of many nuclear power plants. It is already becoming clear that the situation will not improve this year.
Color dispute in hydrogen production
In the case of hydrogen, however, a dispute has arisen over the “right” color. If it is generated by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrolysis and the electricity comes from nuclear power, we speak of “pink” (or “red”) hydrogen.
ORF analysis: EU debate on nuclear power
France wants to declare nuclear energy as “green” energy. There is resistance among EU countries. ORF correspondent Benedict Feichtner reports from Brussels.
Paris is demanding that hydrogen produced using nuclear energy be classified as sustainable in the planned Renewable Energy Directive. This would put “pink” and “green” hydrogen produced from green electricity on the same level. This French advance was also rejected by Austria and several other countries.
Doubts remain about banning combustion engines
The agreement on a broad ban on new registrations of cars with combustion engines was welcomed by many sides. Climate Minister Gewessler was pleased with the lockdown resolution. “I think it’s a shame that a loophole was needed to get procrastinators along the way,” she said.
In fact, negotiators from EU states and the European Parliament had already agreed on the project at the end of October. Germany made additional demands and, after weeks of back and forth, approved exceptions for vehicles running exclusively on synthetic fuels.
more on the subject
Electronic fuels: a controversially shaped piece of the puzzle
However, it is doubtful that the exceptions for e-fuels can be implemented as agreed by the EU Commission and Germany. Cars running on electric fuel are also expected to be included in EU regulations through a delegated act. This is issued by the EU Commission, but the EU Parliament and EU states can raise objections for two months.
Automakers say goodbye to combustion engines
It is also doubtful that combustion engines will still be permitted in relevant numbers after 2035. Many car companies have announced that they will phase out this technology in the coming years. German auto expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer cited the fuel’s high production cost and “scary energy balance” as arguments against such units.
Electronic fuels are produced using large amounts of green electricity, hydrogen and CO2 from the atmosphere. Combustion engines are so climate neutral even though they emit CO2 through their exhaust. Currently, electronic fuels are considered inefficient and expensive. So far there is no noteworthy production.