CRED-NB is a member of the SMR Information Task force that publishes regular bulletins send to federal and provincial legislators. This month the topic is reaching net zero without any new nuclear energy.
The nuclear industry claims that we cannot reach net zero emissions without nuclear because “base load” energy is required to provide reliable electricity “when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow.” This is false. A recent study by the David Suzuki Foundation shows that Canada can reach net zero without any new nuclear energy.
Many countries have taken advantage of the advances in technology and the plummeting price of wind and solar energy and are on their way to a largely renewable energy grid. In 2022, almost 100% of the total electricity produced in ten countries, and between 50 and 100% in 64 countries, was from renewable energy: wind, water and solar.
Germany is a leader in Europe for both solar and wind generation growth. In the first nine months of 2024, renewable energy (largely from wind and solar) accounted for 59% of power generation. By April Germany had exceeded its target of total solar capacity for the entire year.
Many other countries are proving that we do not need nuclear energy to reach net zero, and Canada should be following their lead.
Read the full bulletin HERE.