The allure of nuclear energy – even 40 years after Chernobyl

Home / / The allure of nuclear energy – even 40 years after Chernobyl

With every new energy crisis, calls for ‘technological openness’ – by which nuclear energy is usually meant – ring out as reliably as a Swiss watch. This is presented as the ‘simple’ solution, whilst all the problems known for decades are ignored.

 

Yet fundamentally, nothing has changed. The major technological breakthrough that has been promised since the 1950s is still a long way off. Dependence on third countries and the issue of disposing of highly radioactive nuclear waste remain unresolved. And economically, nuclear energy remains simply disproportionately expensive and uncompetitive, particularly when compared to renewable energies.

 

The figures also bear this out: in 2024, 460 GW of new capacity was added worldwide through solar and wind power, whilst nuclear power actually declined by 1 GW in net terms. Ongoing new construction projects are facing massive delays and exceeding their originally estimated costs many times over. Even former operators of nuclear power plants can no longer find a viable business case for recommissioning them. And the safety risks remain significant – particularly in a world increasingly grappling with geopolitical instability.

 

By contrast, the energy transition based on truly renewable sources offers far greater opportunities: both in terms of security of supply and costs. And it makes a genuine contribution to combating the climate crisis.

 

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30.04.26