Fukushima's impact on the European power sector: The key role of CCS technologies

- By 2050 in Europe, fossil fuels with CCS technology still dominate power generation.
- CCS is more important under stringent climate target and limited nuclear in Europe.
- Without CCS, renewable sources are substituted to fossil fuels.
- Without CCS, carbon cost increases significantly to achieve the climate policy.
- The renewable share in the power system results from the role of nuclear and CCS.

The accident in Fukushima, Japan, in March 2011 has reactivated the discussion on how to meet ambitious climate mitigation objectives as some European countries reconsider the contribution of nuclear power in their energy mix. This study evaluates the impact of nuclear power reduction in Europe on the electricity mix under carbon emission reduction scenarios while considering the availability of carbon capture and storage technological options (CCS). The potential cost of carbon reduction is also addressed using the bottom-up optimization model TIAM-FR. The results suggest that CCS technologies constitute an interesting option in a case of stringent climate targets and limited nuclear electricity. However, the unavailability of CCS technologies induces a significant increase in carbon marginal cost and energy system cost to achieve the climate policy.