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The Advantages of Nuclear Energy in the Clean Energy Shift

Energy Shift

The Advantages of Nuclear Energy in the Clean Energy Shift

Published

3 years ago

on

June 7, 2021

By

Nuclear in the Energy Shift

The world’s population is projected to increase to 9.7 billion by 2050 and as the population grows, so will our energy needs.

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), global energy consumption will rise 40% by 2050, and electricity consumption will more than double. Meeting the rising demand for energy while protecting the environment will require clean energy sources that are powerful and reliable—and nuclear fits the bill.

The above infographic from Standard Uranium highlights the advantages of nuclear energy and its role in the clean energy transition.

The Advantages of Nuclear Energy

From cleanliness and reliability to safety and efficiency, seven factors make nuclear power essential to a clean future.

1. Carbon-free Energy

Nuclear power plants generate energy through fission, without any fossil fuel combustion.

As a result, nuclear power has one of the lowest lifecycle carbon dioxide emissions among other energy technologies. In fact, the use of nuclear power has reduced over 60 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions since 1970.

2. Low Land Footprint

Due to the high energy density of uranium, nuclear power plants can produce large amounts of electricity without taking up much space.

A 1,000 megawatt nuclear facility requires just 1.3 square miles of land. For context, solar and wind farms with equal generating capacity can occupy up to 75 times and 360 times more space, respectively.

3. Reliability

Of all the advantages of nuclear energy, reliability is one of the most important.

Nuclear facilities can generate electricity round the clock, contrary to solar and wind farms that depend on the weather. In 2020, U.S. nuclear power plants were running at maximum capacity 92.5% of the time, surpassing all other energy sources.

4. Resource Efficiency

All sources of energy use raw materials that help build them or support them, besides the fuels.

These can range from metals such as copper and rare earths to materials like concrete and glass. Nuclear power plants have the lowest structural material requirements of all low-carbon energy sources. They’re not only powerful but also efficient in their material consumption.

5. Long-term Affordability

The high capital costs of nuclear facilities are often cited as a potential issue. However, this can change over time.

In fact, nuclear reactors with 20-year lifetime extensions are the cheapest sources of electricity in the United States. Furthermore, the average U.S. nuclear reactor is 39 years old, and 88 of the 96 reactors in the country are approved for 20-year extensions.

6. Safety

Although conventional beliefs might suggest otherwise, nuclear is actually one of the safest sources of energy.

Energy source	Deaths per 10 TWh	Type
Coal	246	Fossil fuel
Oil	184	Fossil fuel
Biomass	46	Renewable
Natural Gas	28	Fossil fuel
Nuclear	0.7	Non-renewable
Wind	0.4	Renewable
Hydro	0.2	Renewable
Solar	0.2	Renewable

Even including disasters and accidents, nuclear energy accounts for one of the lowest number of deaths per terawatt-hour of electricity.

7. Economic Contribution

Apart from the above advantages of nuclear energy, the U.S. nuclear industry also plays a significant role in the economy.

The nuclear industry directly employs 100,000 people, and creates thousands of indirect jobs.
A typical nuclear power plant generates $40 million in annual labor income.
The nuclear industry adds $60 billion to U.S. GDP annually.

Nuclear is not only clean, safe, and reliable but it also has positive ramifications on the economy.

Nuclear Power for the Future

Transitioning to a cleaner future while increasing energy production may be difficult without new nuclear sources—largely because other renewable energy sources aren’t as powerful, reliable, or efficient.

As the energy shift ramps up, nuclear power will be an essential part of our clean energy mix.

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Energy Shift

Visualizing the Decline of Copper Usage in EVs

Copper content in EVs has steadily decreased over the past decade, even as overall copper demand rises due to the increasing adoption of EVs.

Published

1 week ago

on

September 29, 2024

By

Bruno Venditti

The total copper per vehicle is projected to decrease by 38 kg between 2015 and 2030.

Visualizing the Decline of Copper Usage in EVs

Copper intensity in passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs) has steadily decreased over the last decade, driven by numerous technological advancements alongside increasing usage of alternative materials such as aluminum.

In this graphic, we visualize the evolution of copper demand in various subcomponents of passenger battery electric vehicles (BEVs) from 2015 to 2030F, along with total global copper demand driven by EVs for the same period. This data comes exclusively from Benchmark Mineral Intelligence.

Copper Intensity Per Car

According to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, the copper intensity per vehicle is expected to decline by almost 38 kg, from 99 kg in 2015 to 62 kg by 2030.

Year	Wiring	Motor	Copper Foil	Busbar	Auxiliary Motor	Charging Cable	Total
2015	30	8	41.26	13.23	2.87	3.96	99.32
2016	29	8	38.68	13.37	2.85	3.92	95.82
2017	28	7	32.67	12.72	2.84	3.90	87.13
2018	27	7	26.39	11.87	2.82	3.88	78.96
2019	26	7	28.00	10.85	2.78	3.82	78.45
2020	25	7	24.71	10.24	2.73	3.76	73.44
2021	24	6	25.27	9.29	2.69	3.70	70.95
2022	23	7	28.44	8.56	2.65	3.64	73.29
2023	22	7	29.87	8.12	2.61	3.58	73.18
2024F	21	7	27.73	7.67	2.56	3.52	69.48
2025F	20	7	27.79	7.19	2.52	2.51	67.01
2026F	20	7	27.78	6.63	2.48	3.41	67.30
2027F	19	8	27.55	6.15	2.44	3.35	66.49
2028F	18	8	26.77	5.70	2.40	3.30	64.17
2029F	18	8	26.17	5.51	2.39	3.28	63.35
2030F	17	8	25.63	5.44	2.37	3.26	61.70

One of the most significant factors driving this decline is thrifting, where engineers and manufacturers continuously improve the efficiency and performance of various components, leading to reduced copper usage. A key example of this is in battery production, where the thickness of copper foil used in battery anodes has significantly decreased.

In 2015, Benchmark estimated copper foil usage was just over 41 kg per vehicle (at an average thickness of 10 microns), but by 2030, it is projected to fall to 26 kg as manufacturers continue to adopt thinner foils.

Similarly, automotive wiring systems have become more localized, with advances in high-voltage wiring and modular integration allowing for reduced copper content in wiring harnesses.

Copper used in wiring has dropped from 30 kg per vehicle in 2015 to a projected 17 kg by 2030.

Newer, more compact power electronics and improved thermal management in motors and charging cables have also contributed to the reduction in copper usage.

Substitution has also played a role, with alternatives such as aluminum increasingly being used in components like busbars, wiring harnesses, and charging cable applications.

Aluminum’s lighter weight and lower cost have made it a practical alternative to copper in specific applications, though the additional space required to achieve the same level of conductivity can limit its use in certain cases.

Benchmark estimates that copper used in automotive wire harnesses has declined by 30% between 2015 and 2024.

The Road Ahead

Despite reductions in per-vehicle copper usage, the outlook for copper demand from the EV sector remains strong due to the sector’s growth.

Year	EV Sector Copper Demand (tonnes)
2015	56K
2016	82K
2017	111K
2018	166K
2019	179K
2020	237K
2021	447K
2022	696K
2023	902K
2024F	1.0M
2025F	1.2M
2026F	1.5M
2027F	1.7M
2028F	2.0M
2029F	2.2M
2030F	2.5M

Benchmark’s analysis indicates that by 2030, copper demand driven by EVs alone will exceed 2.5 million tonnes, securing copper’s critical role in the transition to a low-carbon future.

Energy Shift

Visualizing the Rise in Global Coal Consumption

China remains the largest coal consumer, making up 56% of the global total.

Published

3 weeks ago

on

September 16, 2024

By

Bruno Venditti

In this graphic, we show global coal consumption by region from 1965 to 2020.

Visualizing the Rise in Global Coal Consumption

This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.

Despite efforts to decarbonize the economy, global coal consumption surpassed 164 exajoules for the first time in 2023. The fossil fuel still accounts for 26% of the world’s total energy consumption.

In this graphic, we show global coal consumption by region from 1965 to 2023, based on data from the Energy Institute.

China Leads in Coal Consumption

China is by far the largest consumer of coal, accounting for 56% of the global total, with 91.94 exajoules in 2023.

It is followed by India, with 21.98 exajoules, and the U.S., with 8.20 exajoules. In 2023, India exceeded the combined consumption of Europe and North America for the first time.

Regionally, North America and Europe have seen a decline in coal consumption since the 1990s, while the Asia-Pacific region experienced a surge in demand during the same period.

Year	Asia Pacific (Exajoules)	North America	Europe	Rest of the World	Total World
2013	114.14	19.48	15.86	11.47	160.95
2014	115.74	19.39	14.88	11.68	161.62
2015	115.00	16.89	14.24	11.11	157.25
2016	113.21	15.55	13.74	11.35	153.85
2017	115.67	15.30	13.29	11.23	155.50
2018	119.05	14.50	12.98	11.34	157.87
2019	121.94	12.49	11.06	11.45	156.95
2020	121.91	9.97	9.57	10.82	152.27
2021	127.75	11.24	10.44	11.12	160.56
2022	129.80	10.54	10.02	11.18	161.53
2023	135.70	8.83	8.39	11.11	164.03