Why nuclear energy is a zero-carbon source of small business energy

When you run a small business, finding affordable ways to be sustainable matters. But terms like ‘green’, ‘zero carbon’ and ‘low carbon’ can be confusing or feel unachievable when you’re busy with the day-to-day running of your business.

It’s why we sat down with one of EDF’s nuclear experts, Jess Cliff, to find out more about nuclear energy – and what makes it one of the most reliable, zero-carbon energy sources available today. Have a read of the blog to understand what we mean by ‘zero-carbon energy’, how nuclear power is vital in tackling climate change and why The Simpsons got it so wrong all those years ago.

In simple terms, what is nuclear energy and how does it work?

Atoms contain a lot of energy, and we can extract some of that energy if we split atoms apart in a controlled process called ‘nuclear fission’. 

This fission reaction happens in the nuclear fuel and the energy gets released in the form of heat. This heat is used to boil water, creating steam. That steam is then used to spin a turbine, which spins a generator and creates electricity.

Why is nuclear considered a zero-carbon energy source, and how does that compare to other forms of generation like gas or coal?

The process of producing nuclear energy doesn’t release any CO₂. The energy is purely extracted from the nuclear fission process, which means it’s ‘zero carbon’, unlike burning fossil fuels.

That said, nothing is ever truly zero carbon in a fundamental sense – we need energy and resources to construct or manufacture the materials needed for energy production (whether it’s steel for wind turbines or power stations). So, to truly compare the carbon footprint of different energy sources we can look at the lifecycle figures to understand which produces the greatest amount of CO₂ over its lifetime.

Source: What are the safest and cleanest sources of energy? - Our World in Data

The data shows that nuclear has the lowest lifecycle carbon footprint of any energy source: half that of wind, almost ten times less than solar, 73 times less than gas and 161 times less than coal!

Want to find out what powers EDF’s fuel mix? Our customers’ electricity comes from a mix of energy sources – including EDF’s own UK nuclear power stations, the wholesale energy market, renewables and other independent power generators.

What’s a common myth about nuclear energy not being ‘green’ – and what’s the reality?

A common myth is that it leaves a mess for future generations to sort because the industry doesn’t look after its waste. But this isn’t correct – for several reasons.

First, it’s important to highlight how little waste we’re talking about in the first place. A study by the UK’s National Nuclear Laboratory showed that if all the energy you used in your whole lifetime (think electricity, central heating, fuel for your car, flights, etc.) came from nuclear, the spent fuel would fit in a drinks can. 

This is because the energy density of nuclear is incredible: one gummy bear-sized uranium fuel pellet produces the same amount of energy as one tonne of coal… So we’re not talking about very much waste to begin with.

There are also safe and established ways to either recycle used nuclear fuel into new fuel (a process called ‘reprocessing’) or to safely and securely store the fuel for long term disposal. 

One internationally recognised solution is what’s known as a Geological Disposal Facility, which is in development in the UK (a similar concept to this facility already exists in Finland). These facilities isolate radioactive waste deep underground, inside a suitable rock layer to ensure that no harmful levels of radioactivity ever reaches the surface environment. It’s a highly engineered structure consisting of multiple barriers that provides protection over hundreds of thousands of years. Radioactive materials also decay over time, making them less harmful.

We should remember too that the reason we’re in a climate crisis is because we’ve relied on fossil fuel generation for decades and the waste emissions of CO₂ (and other air pollution) are released directly into the atmosphere! In contrast, the nuclear industry is one of the only industries that looks after its full lifecycle impact, including responsibly managing all its waste.

Are there any misconceptions about the safety of nuclear?

Everything in life comes with some level of risk, but we can do absolutely everything in our power to reduce that risk to a minimum, and we should always aim for Zero Harm.

The nuclear industry is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world and yet we still regularly go above and beyond the requirements of the regulators when it comes to safety. We plan for all sorts of extreme events and have written safety justifications to prove that we're resilient to those extreme scenarios.

We were one of the only industries that was fully prepared for a global pandemic, and we know our stations will be able to safely withstand earthquakes, floods, fires, storms, heatwaves and even space weather events like solar flares – how many other industries can say that? 

As a scientist by background, I always go back to the data! And the data on the safety of different energy sources shows that nuclear, wind and solar are the three safest technologies by a significant margin. 

Why should a small business owner care where their electricity comes from?

Everything we do in life comes with an impact on the planet – however big or small. It’s our collective responsibility as individuals, businesses and societies to make sure we continue to have a safe, liveable planet now and into the future – this is what sustainability is all about!

We get to choose what type of impact we have – even as a small business – and our environmental impact is much lower if we choose zero-carbon sources of energy (like nuclear) over fossil fuels (more than 70% of global emissions come from the energy sector).

There’s also a business aspect to this; people care more about the impact their consumption and choices have on the planet. Choosing a zero-carbon source of energy is a great way of showing your customers that you care about your small business impact on the environment – and that you’re proud to make sustainable choices.

How can nuclear help small businesses meet their sustainability or CSR goals?

The environmental impact of a business is a huge part of its sustainability and CSR goals. Whether you run a café, consultancy or crèche, choosing an energy provider that offers low-carbon energy is a significant step towards having a more sustainable business. And with EDF, you can get a quote for your small business energy in just 60 seconds!

In terms of broader sustainability, nuclear has a lot of positives too. A recent report, written by a collaboration of nuclear industry organisations, demonstrated that nuclear technologies contribute to all 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Another study by Prospect Trade Union found that of all the low-carbon technologies, the nuclear industry delivers the highest number of jobs for the amount of power it generates. Nuclear has over a 60 year track-record of sustaining tens of thousands of high-quality jobs across the UK, often in areas where these jobs are really needed. By supporting nuclear, you're helping to support the continued demand for those jobs. 

Do we need nuclear if we have more renewables in our energy mix? 

There's a lot of debate around which low-carbon technologies are best to tackle climate change; so much so, that the debate can sometimes stop us moving forward and making progress! I would argue, however, the conversation shouldn't be about whether we want wind, solar or nuclear, but instead why we don’t want fossil fuels.

Tackling the climate crisis is such a huge challenge that we should be using all the tools we have in our toolkit – especially when those tools come with other benefits like a more secure energy system, energy independence and thousands of high-quality, high paid jobs.

If we want the most resilient energy infrastructure for the country, there's a real benefit in having a diverse mix of technologies. Wind and solar are fantastic sources of low-carbon energy that can be built and installed quickly, but they are intermittent and we only have enough capacity to store enough energy to power the whole country for an hour. Nuclear can provide a more reliable, consistent supply of electricity, regardless of the weather or time of day. 

Are you proud to work in nuclear?

Absolutely! The climate crisis is probably the biggest challenge humanity will face in my lifetime and it's important to me that I'm working in a role that helps to tackle it. There are so many other benefits to nuclear outside of net zero (energy security, high quality jobs, etc.) and these are reasons in themselves to be proud… But add in the climate angle and you realise just how important the nuclear sector is.

Want to switch to a provider that helps you make sustainable choices? EDF is Britain’s biggest generator of zero-carbon energy – and we’re rated Excellent on Trustpilot. Get a quote in just 60 seconds online or give one of our energy specialists a call.