Decarbonisation and the drive towards net zero are dominating discussions within governments worldwide. In the UK, the government has taken steps by commissioning the National Energy System Operator (NESO) to provide expert advice on achieving ‘clean power by 2030’. This approach is ambitious, and must now translate into actionable steps as the urgency to decarbonise has never been greater.

The direction of travel is being set, and the big question is how and when we will get there. The decisions we make today will shape our energy future, and it’s essential we take a long-term, strategic approach. While the goal of achieving clean power by 2030 is obviously important, we need to think beyond this milestone and plan for 2050 and beyond, building a resilient, sustainable system that will meet the demands of net zero for decades to come, delivering intergenerational equality and minimising waste volumes and toxicity.

Renewables such as wind and solar have made important and encouraging strides, although challenges with an energy system too reliant on these technologies leaves questions unanswered and vast investments yet to be made in system upgrades and storage.

In this environment, front and centre of our minds is another vital piece of the puzzle that provides long-term energy security, is proven and available to deploy today and comes with lowest possible emissions and waste volumes. This is nuclear energy and it is our belief that the current sprint for clean power by 2030 should absolutely be balanced with long-term strategic decision making that considers all the clean energy technologies available to deliver an electricity system that future generations can also be proud of.

While the goal of achieving clean power by 2030 is obviously important, we need to think beyond this milestone and plan for 2050 and beyond.

What does clean energy mean?
NESO defines clean energy as power from sources considered to be low carbon, such as renewables, nuclear, carbon capture and storage; also imports, regardless of the emissions associated with their point of production. 2030 is but a blink of an eye into the future, and current clean power by 2030 activities focus on reducing territorial emissions from electricity to net zero. NESO is currently working on how this could be achieved based on several scenarios.

Renewables alone won’t secure our clean energy future
Even with the most ambitious roll out, renewables leave a concerning energy gap. Their intermittency, combined with cost and technology limitations of energy storage, and the unpredictability of environmental conditions, mean that renewables cannot consistently provide the baseload power essential for grid stability, day in, day out, for the low cost that has been promised.

Reliable, firm supply is crucial not just for domestic users, but also for decarbonising energy-intensive foundation industries exclusively reliant on fossil fuels such as manufacturing and steel production, or nascent sectors such as hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel production. All of these do or will in the future require a consistent energy supply to sustain high-energy processes that can’t be switched on and off.

There is also supply chain security. Wind turbines and solar panels have relatively short lifespans, typically lasting between 20 and 25 years. By the time we reach the 2040s, much of the renewable infrastructure built today will have reached the end of its useful life and require replacement. This poses a significant problem if we remain dependent on international supply chains to deliver the components and materials required to replace this ageing infrastructure every 20 to 25 years.

Building out an electricity system suitable for these sources poses risks therefore of stranded investment that could derail our long-term decarbonisation efforts and leave us scrambling to secure replacement infrastructure when we need it most. Diversifying our energy mix and investing in homegrown energy solutions will provide long-term stability and security, and this is where nuclear steps in to support renewables.

A reliable, home-grown solution
Nuclear energy is not just reliable; it’s essential for maintaining stable, low-carbon energy well into the future. Once operational, a nuclear plant can generate clean, consistent heat and power for months and years at a time over an operational life of at least 60 years – at near-fixed costs. This offers long-term price stability and reducing energy price fluctuations and avoids the high hidden cost associated with large-scale daily and intraseasonal storage and costly grid connectivity of an electricity system vastly reliant on renewables.

The nuclear sector is a significant job creator, providing thousands of highly skilled positions in construction, operation and maintenance of nuclear facilities. These jobs support local economies and drive innovation and technological advancement within the country, which is hugely important if we are to become truly energy independent.

Right now, the nuclear industry is an important and exciting space to be in because it’s tackling some of the biggest challenges we face – energy reliability and security, economic growth, and of course, the transition to clean energy and a net-zero future. We have this incredible, mature and available technology at our disposal to overcome the challenges we face, if given the opportunity through long-term decision-making and investments.

Beyond 2030
While the UK government’s focus on 2030 clean power targets is important, we must consider what happens beyond that. This is our moment to lay the foundations for a prosperous, sustainable future for generations to come. We must seize it.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

• Further reading: ‘How civil nuclear power is being rehabilitated’. Following Europe’s recent energy security crisis and the expectation of increased industry energy demand, plus the climate emergency, the light is once again shining on civil nuclear power. As a result, some long-standing barriers to finance have shifted, which might help facilitate newbuild civil nuclear power projects.
• The data centre industry is increasingly looking to low-carbon energy sources such as nuclear, hydrogen and renewables to meet rising demand for electricity while advancing its sustainability goals.