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The most common fuel used in conventional nuclear fission power stations, uranium-235 is "non-renewable" according to the Energy Information Administration, the organization however is silent on the recycled MOX fuel. [3] The National Renewable Energy Laboratory does not mention nuclear power in its "energy basics" definition. [4]
Masayoshi Son, an advocate for renewable energy, however, has pointed out that the government estimates for nuclear power did not include the costs for reprocessing the fuel or disaster insurance liability. Son estimated that if these costs were included, the cost of nuclear power was about the same as wind power. [130] [131] [132]
Analysis of the economics of nuclear power must take into account who bears the risks of future uncertainties. To date all operating nuclear power plants were developed by state-owned or regulated utility monopolies [27] [28] where many of the risks associated with political change and regulatory ratcheting were borne by consumers rather than ...
Nuclear power accounts for about 18% of US electricity generation. Natural gas accounts for 40%, coal 20%, and renewables including wind, solar, and hydropower about 21%.
The role nuclear power can or should play in helping the world reduce emissions is hotly debated. Experts at odds over nuclear power's role in fighting climate change [Video] Skip to main content
Nuclear power's lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions—including the mining and processing of uranium—are similar to the emissions from renewable energy sources. [53] Nuclear power uses little land per unit of energy produced, compared to the major renewables. Additionally, Nuclear power does not create local air pollution.
The peer-reviewed Energy study analyzes these factors and presents an apples-to-apples cost comparison on the full-system cost of wind, solar, coal, natural gas and nuclear power.
Nuclear power's contribution to global energy production was about 4% in 2023. This is a little more than wind power, which provided 3.5% of global energy in 2023. [167] Nuclear power's share of global electricity production has fallen from 16.5% in 1997, in large part because the economics of nuclear power have become more difficult. [168]