Nuclear power carbon emissions reduction

The use of coal for electricity generation is responsible for about 32% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions in the U S. 11 As shown by France, it is possible to displace virtually all the coal used in electricity generation. Thus, France in 1997 obtained about 78% of its electricity from nuclear power and only about 5% from coal. Further reductions in carbon dioxide emissions could be made by the electrification of other sectors of the energy economy, including buildings, and eventually perhaps much of transportation. 

Just as important as evaluating the performance of the nuclear fuel cycle, one must also consider the size of the fluxes and reservoirs of the carbon cycle. Present CO2 emissions from fossil fuels and the production of cement are estimated to be 6.3 + 0.4 GtC/y emissions related to changes in land use (e.g., deforestation) are 1.6 0.8 GtC/y (Schimel et al. 2001). At present, the reduction of C02 emissions that can be attributed to the use of nuclear power is 0.5 GtC/y. Thus, the uncertainties in the major fluxes in the carbon cycle are approximately the same as the present impact of nuclear power on C02 emissions (Sarmiento Gruber 2002). To quote from Falkowski et al. (2000), Our knowledge is insufficient to describe the interactions between the components of the Earth system and the relationship between... 

A reduction of carbon emissions is one of the important incentives for future development of nuclear power [5], By offering cogeneration options with flexible or multiple non-electric applications, many innovative SMRs could help minimize not only the emissions associated with electricity generation but also those arising from the heat and motive power production by fossil fuel combustion. 

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