欧洲议会投票支持将核能和天然气列为“绿色能源”，扫清了从环境投资者那里获得数十亿欧元资金的最后一个主要障碍。
据悉，此次投票是欧盟将这两种能源列入其“分类目录”的最后一道障碍。“分类目录”是决定哪些投资可以在欧洲推广为可持续投资的规则手册。这些规定旨在引导私人资本走向真正的绿色项目，为可持续投资设立欧洲标准，并杜绝“漂绿”行为。
投票结果意味着，新的天然气发电厂将能够从环境、社会和治理投资者那里获得新的资金，尽管时间有限，而且只有当这些设施取代燃煤电厂时才会如此。此次投票结果还将对欧洲陷入困境的核能行业起到提振作用。法国等国家将核能视为取代俄罗斯化石燃料的关键低碳能源。
这一结果让欧盟委员会松了一口气，该机构在去年年底首次提出了这一提议。俄乌冲突爆发后，在天然气价格飙升和供应减少的威胁下，天然气作为过渡燃料的作用受到质疑。
反对者则表示，给天然气和核能贴上绿色标签可能会分流对可再生能源的投资，并损害欧盟规则在投资者中的可信度。
Members of the European parliament have decided to “follow the science” and support legislation which includes nuclear in the bloc’s sustainable finance taxonomy for green investment.
From a total of 639 votes, 328 voted against a motion to exclude nuclear energy – and gas – from the taxonomy. 278 voted against and 33 abstained.
A nuclear industry source told NucNet: “This result is actually even better than our most positive expectations based on calculations prior to the vote. Especially given the very aggressive misinformation campaign which the opponents have been running over the last 10 days (and right up until the last minute).”
The legislation means that under certain conditions nuclear will be labelled as a “green” energy source that could contribute to Europe’s transition to climate neutrality.
The taxonomy became law in July 2020, but legislators left important details to be resolved through complementary delegated acts – secondary legislation meant for technical issues that is not subject to the same degree of ministerial and parliamentary oversight.
The Brussels-based nuclear industry group nucleareurope said in a statement after the result was announced that the science “clearly states that nuclear is sustainable and essential in the fight against climate change”.
“It is fantastic to see that a majority in the European parliament has decided to listen to the experts and take the right decision” said Yves Desbazeille, nucleareurope’s director-general.
“We have less than 30 years left to decarbonise our economy in a sustainable way. By listening to the science, these MEPs have strengthened the EU’s chances of achieving this ambitious goal.”
Financial services commissioner Mairead McGuinness told MEPs before the plenary debate and vote on the taxonomy that “this is a moment of truth”.
She said the delegated act prioritises investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency. “And given the urgency of moving away from Russian fossil fuels, we need to ramp up those investments with a renewed sense of urgency,” she said.
Ms McGuinness said nuclear power is “divisive” and there are many different views around nuclear, it has its supporters and detractors.
But she said low-carbon nuclear is “part of our energy mix in transition” and “that is why it is in the transition category of the taxonomy”.
Stringent Conditions For Nuclear
According to the taxonomy, nuclear can now be considered as taxonomy compliant as long as it meets several stringent conditions, including:
- The member state in which the project is located must have operational final disposal facilities for very low, low and intermediate radioactive waste;
- The member state must have plans in place for an operational disposal facility for high level radioactive waste;
- As of 2025, existing and new build projects must use accident-tolerant fuel, which has been certified and approved by the national regulator.
nucleareurope said noted that the European commission’s own scientific body, the Joint Research Centre, concluded in 2021 that nuclear is as sustainable as other power-producing technologies already considered as taxonomy-compliant, including renewables.
It said the decision places the EU on an equal footing globally. “Interest in nuclear is growing all around the world, including in the EU.” Nuclear is “a major lever” to decarbonise the European economy and the European nuclear industry has a lot of projects in the pipeline which will require significant private investment, including the extension of the existing nuclear fleet, new build projects including large reactors and small modular reactors, and the development of new European technologies such as advanced reactors.
nucleareurope also said the decision strengthens security of energy supply. “Because it is not weather dependent, nuclear is available 24/7. Given that today’s decision will support the further development of nuclear in the EU, this will in turn enhance security of energy supplies,” the group said.
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