What role can nuclear energy play in order to achieve the EU clean energy targets? Do the dangers of nuclear energy outweigh the benefits? What advantages would the standardization of nuclear energy result in? Read about the divide of opinions between those favoring nuclear energy and those opposing it due to the inherent dangers in this article on the long-term role of nuclear power in Europe: http://bit.ly/Slideshare_Paulsen

1. The Long-term Role of Nuclear Power in Europe
By Justin Paulsen
Nuclear energy has consistently been a contentious issue worldwide, despite providing a
substantial opportunity for a high volume of clean energy generation. The reasons for the
debate primarily revolve around the large advanced investment required to open a nuclear
reactor, alongside the safety concerns that nuclear energy poses (particularly in the wake of
Fukushima). As a result, assessing the long-term role of nuclear energy in the European Union
(EU) is a complex task requiring extensive consideration of the energy demands, legislative
targets, technological advances and market factors.
The primary purpose of this analysis will be to derive the feasibility of the current EU clean
energy targets in the longer term, including the variable role nuclear energy may need to play in
order to achieve these targets. Various publications have begun assessing this question,
generally highlighting that nuclear energy is central to the debate despite political and economic
challenges:
―To summarise, nuclear energy would clearly be needed for the EU long-term
targets, but issues remain whether new build is politically feasible in the current
situation and whether it is an economically feasible option on the liberalised
electricity markets for the energy companies.― (16)
In order to outline the primary drivers in the implementation and potential scale of nuclear
technology as an energy source, it is vital to understand the macro-environmental factors
involved; particularly from a legal, economic and societal perspective.
EU Targets and Policies:
2020 and 2050
EU member states have drafted and enacted legislative targets in 2009 to approach
environmental issues, particularly pertaining to harmful emissions. This is inclusive of the
transportation and heating/cooling industries in conjunction with energy production (8). The
2020 targets include a reduction of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions by 20% (relative to 1990
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