NUCLEAR ENERGY
In 1932, John Cockcroft, Ernest Walton and Ernest Rutherford discovered that splitting lithium atoms released large amounts of energy. The first commercial nuclear power station, Calder Hall in the UK, was opened in 1956 and in 2025, SMRs are gaining popularity and being deployed.
According to the IEA, nuclear energy now avoids 1.5 gigatonnes of global emissions and 180 billion cubic metres of global gas demand each year with 413 GW of capacity across 32 countries. With energy systems around the world decarbonising, carbon free nuclear power is an attractive choice.
Per Erik Holsten is President of ABB Energy Industries and has worked in the energy sector for more than 30 years across both hydrocarbons and renewables. He began his career as an engineer before progressing to senior leadership roles.
Per Erik shares his expertise on nuclear power and global decarbonisation with Energy Digital.
Q. WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO DECARBONISE ENERGY?
» The imperative for decarbonisation stems from the need to enable a net zero society, create a more diverse energy ecosystem and transition to a more sustainable energy future. It remains fundamentally true that the greenest unit of energy is the one we don’ t use. We must reframe how we think about energy production, seeking realistic and costeffective ways to reduce emissions and scale up low-carbon solutions.
The energy transition is not a simple“ either-or” challenge, but rather about achieving synergy across three critical pillars – security, sustainability and affordability. Our goal must be to accelerate clean energy deployment in a way that enhances reliability and ensures that more sustainable solutions do not compromise energy security or economic stability.
Q. WHAT ROLE CAN NUCLEAR PLAY IN BRINGING ENERGY TOWARDS NET ZERO?
» ABB is in favor of all low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear. Nuclear power is increasingly recognized as a crucial component of a net zero future. The IEA’ s 2050 Net Zero Pathway clearly states that while clean energy technologies like solar PV and wind are important, they alone are insufficient to deliver net zero emissions. Large-scale, smarter infrastructure networks, including nuclear power and innovative technologies such as small modular reactors( SMRs), are essential.
As a complement to intermittent renewable energy sources, nuclear provides consistent, reliable baseload power that can support a stable energy grid. With growing electricity demand, particularly driven by the electrification of transportation and industry, nuclear offers a reliable solution as part of the future energy mix.
Q. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF NUCLEAR ENERGY?
» Nuclear energy offers several key advantages. According to the IEA, SMRs present particularly promising opportunities, offering lower capital costs,
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