Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Sources told Al Mayadeen: Russia's position on Iran's right to peacefully enrich uranium has not changed during ongoing contacts between the two countries
Diplomatic sources to Al Mayadeen: Iran has not received any Russian offer to halt uranium enrichment on its territory
Syrian, Israeli officials to meet in Baku: AFP, citing diplomatic source in Damascus
Fuel shortages in Gaza at 'critical levels', UN warns
Israeli media: Three soldiers were injured by an explosive device in southern Gaza, and a fourth was wounded in the north
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Approximately 80 Palestinians have been killed since dawn in the latest wave of escalating Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip, according to an initial toll
Araghchi: The risk of radiation spreading in nuclear facilities is serious, and there is also the risk of the explosion of war munitions left behind by the US aggression
Araghchi: Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency will not end, but it will take a different form in the future to ensure the security of nuclear facilities
Araghchi: Iran's nuclear program was and will remain peaceful, and Iran has not withdrawn from international treaties
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi meets with ambassadors and heads of foreign missions in Iran

Energy crisis pushes nuclear comeback worldwide

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 27 Aug 2022 13:12
3 Min Read

As countries become more desperate for energy alternatives, some are heading toward nuclear power.

  • x
  • The nuclear power plant Isar 2 is pictured in Essenbach, Germany on Mar 3, 2022. (File photo: Armin Weigel/dpa via AP)
    The nuclear power plant Isar 2 pictured in Essenbach, Germany on Mar 3, 2022 (AP)

Nuclear power is becoming more popular as countries look for alternatives with the cost of importing energy growing globally and climate crises causing devastation.

The Fukushima disaster in Japan in 2011—the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl in 1986—led to a drop in nuclear power investment as governments ran terrified and safety concerns grew. However, the tide is now shifting back in favor of nuclear power after Moscow's operation in Ukraine, the ensuing squeeze on energy supplies, and Europe's push to wean itself off of Russian oil and gas.

With rising gas and power prices and limited resources likely to result in widespread hardship this winter, governments must make difficult decisions.

Read next: Kiev using toxic agents against Russian military in Zaporozhye: Moscow

Some experts contend that nuclear power should not be a viable alternative, while others contend that given the prevalence of crises, it must continue to be a component of the global energy mix.

Although 32 countries presently use nuclear energy to produce 10% of the world's electricity, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) boosted its predictions for the first time since the 2011 tragedy in September. The IAEA now expects installed capacity to double by 2050 under the most favorable scenario.

Read next: Ukrainian troops open fire at Zaporozhye NPP: Enerhodar Authorities

Climate reasoning 

Related News

Trump imposes 25% levies on East Asia allies, threatens BRICS with 10%

Trump threatens steep tariffs as Japan demands final trade deal: FT

Even in Germany, the largest economy in Europe, the topic of continuing with nuclear energy is no longer a taboo as the energy crisis reignites discussion over closing the nation's final three nuclear power reactors by the end of 2022.

Berlin stated last month that it will wait for the results of a national power grid "stress test" before determining whether to continue with the phaseout.

Greenpeace Germany's climate and energy expert, Gerald Neubauer, said turning to nuclear was "not a solution to the energy crisis."

He claimed that since Russian gas is primarily "used for heating" in Germany rather than for the generation of electricity, so nuclear energy would only have "limited" efficacy in replacing it.

Divided opinions 

With the increase in demand for power, a number of nations have declared a desire to build nuclear infrastructure, including China, which already has the most reactors, the Czech Republic, India, and Poland since nuclear energy provides an alternative to coal.

Similar goals are shared by the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and even the United States, where President Joe Biden's investment plan promotes the growth of the sector.

Read next: France to Build New Nuclear Reactors

Due to the possibility of catastrophic accidents and the ongoing debate over how to adequately dispose of radioactive waste, IPCC experts acknowledge that the use of nuclear energy "can be constrained by societal preferences."

Some countries, like New Zealand, oppose nuclear, and the issue has also been hotly debated in the European Union over whether it should be listed as "green" energy.

Read more: A messy nuclear slowdown for Europe

  • Japan
  • Moscow
  • Energy crisis
  • Europe
  • greenpeace
  • International Atomic Energy Agency
  • Germany
  • Nuclear Deal

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Major ambush in Gaza kills 6 Israeli troops, injures dozens

Major ambush in Gaza kills 5 Israeli troops, injures 14

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Concrete and rubble fall from a heavily damaged building as Israeli soldiers search for survivors in a residential area hit by a missile fired from Iran, near Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)

'Israel' concealed damage inflicted by Iran in war, report finds

  • Politics
  • 5 Jul 2025
Israeli soldiers are seen in Beit Hanoun ahead of an operation by the al-Qassam Brigades, undated (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)

'Israel' on blast as media exposes report discrepancies in Gaza ambush

  • Palestine
  • 8 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Yemenis burn US and Israeli flags during an anti-US and anti-Israeli weekly rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, June 20, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Sanaa slams UN envoy over biased statement on Red Sea operations

Palestinians carry the body of Abdul Qusay Issa, 23, who was killed in an Israeli military raid, during his funeral at the West Bank village of Salem, near Nablus, Sunday, July 6, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli settlers kill Palestinian youth in brutal West Bank assault

Vehicles drive past a banner showing portraits of the Iranian armed forces commanders and nuclear scientists who were killed in an Israeli strike, at Tajrish Square in northern Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran envisions a resistant, independent Middle East, Larijani says

An al-Qassam Brigades fighter stands over the corpse of an Israeli soldier killed in Khan Younis, Gaza, in footage published on July 10, 2025 (Al-Qassam Brigades Military Media)
Politics

Al-Qassam kill Israeli soldier in new 'scandal' for Israeli forces

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS