5 Mar (NucNet): Measures provided for the support of renewable energy sources should apply to nuclear energy in order to create “a level-playing field” for all low-carbon technologies, European nuclear energy industry association Foratom has said in a position paper.
Brussels-based Foratom said it supports the European Commission (EC) proposed target of a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 because it offers flexibility for each member state to choose the energy mix most suited to its national circumstances.
“This should allow those that have expressed the intention to build new nuclear power plants to proceed and others to follow this option if they so wish”, the position paper said.
But Foratom also called the EC communication on a policy framework for climate and energy for 2030 a “missed opportunity” and said more emphasis should be placed on investment enabling measures for all low-carbon technologies.
The EC’s comments on renewable energy also apply to nuclear power, Foratom’s position paper said several times.
Foratom said the framework should support the long-term and capital-intensive nature of all low-carbon technologies by enabling contracts-for-difference, shared ownership schemes or other viable market models.
Foratom’s position paper is online:
www.foratom.org/jsmallfib_top/Publications/position_paper/FORATOM_Response_2030_Framework.pdf
The EC published its policy framework for climate and energy for 2020 to 2030 on 22 January 2014. It is available here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:52014DC0015:EN:NOT
