CO2 emissions have been rising in recent years despite the deployment of renewable energy technologies so countries need to reassess their policies and consider nuclear, Nuclear Energy Agency director-general William Magwood said.

Mr Magwood told a World Nuclear Association webinar that countries need to look at their energy infrastructure more realistically and “many might not be able to rely on wind a solar”.

He said they will need another large, dispatchable energy resource that does not release CO2. Hydropower is an option, but difficult to expand. “Nuclear is expandable and can be matched with renewables to enable us to be successful [in meeting emissions targets],” Mr Magwood said.

International Energy Agency data shows that global energy-related CO2 emissions flattened in 2019 at around 33 gigatonnes following two years of increases.