| dc.description.abstract | In light of the European energy crisis, decarbonization efforts, and the recent Russian invasion of Ukraine, nuclear energy has gained renewed attention as a low-carbon, reliable energy source that can reduce reliance on fossil fuels and promote energy security. This thesis explores the potential role of nuclear energy in Europe's decarbonization, analysing its environmental, economic, and political dimensions using the energy trilemma framework. While nuclear energy offers great opportunities for decarbonization, it also poses significant challenges such as nuclear waste management. Nuclear energy's characteristics can also strengthen energy security by delivering reliable energy without geopolitical ties. The results of the analysis are quite positive for lifetime extension of existing nuclear reactors due to their low costs, while the results for commissioning new nuclear fission plants are less clear-cut. However, nuclear energy has in combination with renewables the opportunity to push the grid to a decarbonized reality and the prospects of nuclear fusion could help break our dependence on fossil fuels. | |
