This should be fun? Politicians have been forced to make decisions such as calling Nat gas “Interim” to allow it to replace coal when both are fossil fuels. With Nat Gas no longer cheap nor plentiful coal has come back into the desperately needed range. Shutting down nuclear power (due to an undersea quake near Japan) has left few choices for highly industrial economies.
Coalition governments made up of multiple small parties demands to keep the government in power… I won’t even go there.
EU’s ‘green’ gas and nuclear investment rules head for final vote
By Reuters • Updated: 05/07/2022 - 11:20 By Kate Abnett
BRUSSELS – A European Union plan to label investments in natural gas and nuclear power plants as climate-friendly faces a final vote on Wednesday when lawmakers decide whether to accept or reject proposals that have divided governments and investors.
The vote is the final hurdle in the EU’s long-delayed decision on whether to add the two energy sources to its “taxonomy”, a rulebook determining which investments can be marketed in Europe as sustainable.
Designed to guide private capital towards truly green projects, the rules aim to set a European standard for sustainable investment and stamp out greenwashing.
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Critics point out the rules cover power plants, but not the liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals that would facilitate extra imports.
The article above was evidently written before the final vote had taken place. The actual vote did indeed allow for gas and nuclear to be included in the so-called ‘taxonomy’.
https://apnews.com/article/climate-russia-ukraine-legislatur…
From AP: BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union lawmakers voted Wednesday to include natural gas and nuclear in the bloc’s list of sustainable activities, backing a proposal from the EU’s executive arm that has been drawing fierce criticism from environment groups and now looks set to trigger legal challenges.
The rules for natural gas, though, seem to be very restrictive at first look.
In final rules published on Wednesday, gas power plants would be labelled green this decade if they emit less than 270g of CO2 equivalent per kWh, or have annual emissions below 550kg CO2e per kW over 20 years.
Today’s natural gas-fired power plants would have a difficult time getting below 270 grams of CO2 per kwh. They would need to employ some kind of carbon capture and sequestration technology, which would be quite expensive. Another possibility would be to mix in hydrogen with the natural gas, but then there is the problem of making the hydrogen, and the cost associated with that. By my figures, the 550 kg/KW limit would also be difficult, unless the plants operate at quite low capacity factors near 20%, or again use carbon capture or maybe hydrogen supplementation.
If they are serious, nuclear power needs to be a big part of any major CO2 reduction strategy, especially a strategy that will require more and more electricity to charge up EVs and convert from gas heat to electricity.
If they are serious, nuclear power needs to be a big part of any major CO2 reduction strategy, especially a strategy that will require more and more electricity to charge up EVs and convert from gas heat to electricity.
Pete
Nuclear is only feasible if nations foot the bill.
I am not against nuclear entirely. I am more just not in love with nuclear. Mi disclaimer.