Nuclear Energy, a sustainable source of low carbon energy for the Arctic (IAEA, Canadian Nuclear Association, World Nuclear Association)

The First Global Stocktake agreed at COP28 called for an acceleration of zero and low emission technologies including nuclear, to address the need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Globally nuclear power provides just under a quarter of all low-carbon electricity – and according to the latest IAEA projections, the installed capacity is set to increase by up to 150% by 2050 to about 950 GW. An important newbuild effort is needed, and the IAEA sees small modular reactors (SMRs) potentially representing 24% of all new nuclear capacity put online by the middle of the century. SMRs, and their smaller versions, micro-reactors, are capable of providing clean electricity 24/7, even in regions where variable renewables have limited potential, such as the Arctic – and where diesel generators are the main source of power today. In addition to electricity, SMRs can also provide heat – as in the case of the Floating Nuclear Power Plant Akademik Lomonosov in north-eastern Siberia.

This event will discuss the potential of nuclear technologies such as SMRs to provide a sustainable source of energy to communities and industries in the Arctic, and to replace costly and GHG-emitting solutions that are in use today. The event will also discuss the contribution of nuclear energy and technologies to sustainable development goals, including SDG3 (good health and well-being), SDG7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG8 (decent work and economic growth) and SDG13 (climate action).

The event will gather experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Canadian Nuclear Association (CNA), the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI) and the World Nuclear Association (WNA). The discussion will take the form of a moderated panel, with short presentations to lay the ground for the discussion.

Moderator:

• Mr Henri Paillere, Head of the Planning and Economic Studies Section at IAEA

Speakers:

• Ms Taisiya Afanasyeva, Energy Economist, IAEA
• Mr George Christidis, VP of Government Relations and International Affairs, CNA
• Mr King Lee, Head of Policy and Industry Engagement, WNA
• Mr John Kotek, Sr. VP of Policy Development and Public Affairs, NEI