CO2 emissions from nuclear power generation could be as high as electricity from gas

probe

CO2 emissions per kWh of electricity generated:

Fuel ... ... gCO2/kWh

Coal … … … … … .755g
Natural gas … … 385g
Biomass … … … .. 45g
Wind … … … … ... 20g
Nuclear* … … .. 84-122g

*Assuming ore grade of 0.15 (ie good quality)

“The extraction of uranium from its ores as found in the ground consumes lots of energy, chemicals, materials and equipment. The energy requirements of uranium recovery depend on the ore grade: the lower the grade, the more rock has to be processed, the more energy is consumed, hence the more CO2 is emitted.” One has to add to this the CO2 emissions associated with the millions of tonnes of concrete and steel used in the construction of these stations, and the energy consumed in the dismantling of the stations at the end of their useful life. Not to mention the energy used in treating the nuclear waste and storing the leftovers for centuries.

“If we assume a gas-fired power station emits 100% CO2, then nuclear power using today’s average ore grade of 0.15% would emit approximately 30% CO2. As the ore grade declines, the CO2 emissions increase. At an ore grade of between 0.01 and 0.02% U3O8, CO2 emissions from nuclear power equal that of a gas-fired power plant”.

If nuclear retains its share of the electricity generation market at today’s levels, the CO2 emissions from nuclear power generation per kWh generated will exceed CO2 emissions from gas fired generation for the same quantity of electricity produced within about 40 years. If there was a large scale move to nuclear power generation by China, India, and others, we would be down to low grade ores very much sooner!

http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/briefing_papers/pdf/secureenergy.pdf

.probe

RedPlanet

Nice,
But " zero CO2 emissions", has just been a flag of convenience for the pro-nuclear crowd.
It's certainly not their only card, cue Peak Oil...:;)