Nuclear has been 'important source of system flexibility' in Europe during coronavirus crisis

摘要

Nuclear energy has been an important source of power system flexibility in Europe through the coronavirus pandemic, but demand is predicted to fall by about 2.5% in 2020 in response to a lower need for electricity as lockdowns continue, the International Energy Agency has said. The Global Energy Review said nuclear has helped to maintain electricity security by operating in a load-following mode in several countries including France, Germany, Belgium, Slovakia and Sweden. But it said the nuclear sector has not been immune to the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis, though in most cases commercial power reactors have continued to produce electricity. The IEA estimates in the report that lockdowns would reduce global nuclear power output in 2020 by 3% from 2019 levels, less than the 6% drop in total electricity demand. Global nuclear power generation fell by about 3% in Q1 2020 compared with Q1 2019, dampened by reductions in electricity demand.