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Transition dialogues
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Edited by Nayara Machado
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Last Saturday (February 12), 22 countries signed a joint declaration committing to tripling nuclear energy as a strategy to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
To this end, they call on shareholders of international financial institutions to promote the inclusion of nuclear energy in energy credit policies. Read the explanation in English
The announcement came during the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates this year.
The country the seventh largest oil producer is among the signatories of the document, along with the United States, Bulgaria, Canada, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ghana, Hungary, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Moldova, Mongolia and Morocco. Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
The declaration followed a commitment by 118 countries to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.
Those who believe in nuclear power have a vision that the alternative can be expanded without occupying large areas by placing power plants where they are needed and supporting this Decarbonization of industrial sectors It is difficult to reduce emissions.
Enter the scene small modular reactors (SMRs) and the production of hydrogen and synthetic fuels.
In the joint statement, the signatories commit to mobilizing investment and supporting the development and construction of nuclear reactors, “such as small modular reactors and other advanced reactors for power generation, as well as broader industrial applications for decarbonization, such as hydrogen production or synthesis.” Fuels.”
market
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear energy a proven carbonfree source of electricity currently contributes about 10% of global electricity generation 413 GW.
According to a McKinsey study, demand for this type of energy production could reach 800 GW in 2050 and account for up to 20% of future consumption, with electrification of transport and industrial processes requiring ever more energy.
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Looking for industrial policy
Although the country has not signed the joint statement, there is movement around the source.
In May this year, the federal government declared the development of small nuclear power plants among the priorities of the decarbonization axis of the guidelines for new industrial policies.
Nuclear energy is also part of the bilateral energy market agenda between Brazil and Argentina, while the Brazilian National Congress is taking some steps to become part of the lowcarbon hydrogen policy.
Another agenda in Congress is a plan to reactivate the national nuclear program presented by the president of the Parliamentary Front for Nuclear Activities, deputy Júlio Lopes (PPRJ). Lopes speaks about the proposal in an interview with EPBR Studio: watch on YouTube
For Celso CunhaPresident of the Brazilian Association for the Development of Nuclear Activities (Abdan), it is necessary to develop policies that consider the source as a strategy to decarbonize the country’s intensive industry.
“When we think about the amount of fossil energy produced around the world, there is no other source that can be clean, stable and at the scale that a nuclear power plant can.”
In an interview with epbr in November, he emphasized that since COP26 (2021), more and more countries are launching programs to boost the construction of power plants while old power plants are being decommissioned.
A survey by S&P Global from early 2023 found that around 160 GW of new additions are planned by 2035, almost double the amount in the last 13 years. Much of this new capacity was due to the energy crisis of recent years.
In the case of Brazil, Cunha mentions the National Energy Plan 2050 (PNE 2050), which indicates that the country could build 8GW to 10GW of nuclear power plants.
Although this energy is more expensive, it has the potential displace fossil heat generation Oil, coal and gas, which ensures the security of energy supply since their production does not depend on climatic conditions like renewable energies.
The question of costsaid the President of Abdan, is manageable.
SMRs
One of the bets is the technology of small nuclear reactors, “the new big sensation,” says the managing director, because being smaller reduces construction time and financial risk. In addition, certification is carried out exfactory, which saves time through scaled production and makes the solution more competitive.
“Look at Poland installing 20 SMRs to replace coalfired thermal power plants,” comments Cunha.
Here in Brazil, Abdan is working with the Jorge Lacerda complex in Santa Catarina on a pilot project to replace coalfired thermal power plants with nuclear reactors.
SMRs are modules with a capacity of 50 MW to 300 MW that cost up to $500 million, while an Angra 3 type plant is 1,200 MW, four times as large, and is estimated to cost about $5 billion.
“Let’s think of these small reactors they’re really small, they fit in a truck as the decarbonization of our industry. Think of the large steel mills that have a pollution problem. Today green steel has phenomenal prices. But to achieve that, you have to make this industry green.”
In this case, Cunha points out that all that is needed is an adjustment of the legislation on selfproduction of energy to allow the private sector to invest in the technology.
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Short pants
Coal peaks
Analysis by Rystad Energy shows that coal consumption and emissions in the global energy sector will peak in 2023 as new lowcarbon and renewable energy sources increase. Coalbased electricity generation is forecast to decline slightly to 10,332 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2024, a decrease of 41 TWh compared to 2023.
CO2 neutral airport
BH Airport operated by the consortium of Grupo CCR, Zurich Airport and Infraero is currently the first CO2neutral airport in Brazil. The certification, awarded by the International Council of Airports in Latin America and the Caribbean (ACILAC), evaluates initiatives at six levels.
To achieve carbon neutrality, the airport in Belo Horizonte (MG), also known as Confins, demonstrated the use of electrical energy from 100% renewable sources. Investments have also been made in the implementation of the 400 Hz (electric power) + PCA (aircraft air conditioning) project so that aircraft on the ground do not have to use kerosene generators.
In total, the reduction of the airport’s direct CO2 emissions has already reached more than 4,000 tons, representing 57% of the emissions recorded by BH Airport in the base year of 2017.
financing for them
IDB Invest provided Sicredi with a $30 million, sevenyear loan to support the growth of its portfolio of womenled micro, small and mediumsized enterprises in Brazil. At least $5 million of the loan will be used exclusively to finance businesses in the Amazon.
Innovation with biogas
The Brazilian Biogas Association (Abiogás) and the E+ Energy Transition Institute signed a collaboration agreement this Tuesday (May 12) in Dubai to promote technological innovation, promote public policies and technical and economic feasibility studies in the region.
The partnership runs for 30 months and can be extended for the same period. It also envisages the development of public policies that favor the use of biomethane and proposes policies and regulations that promote the adoption of this renewable energy source.
ONS joins the UN Global Compact
The National Electric System Operator (ONS) joined the UN initiative to mobilize the business community to adopt and promote ten universally recognized principles in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anticorruption. Since January 2023, the ONS has also been a signatory to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles initiative.