Is nuclear needed for net-zero?

Nuclear energy is not renewable, but it is low-carbon. Whether it should be part of the post-fossil fuel power grid is heatedly debated.

Bertie took this question to Dr. Paul Dorfman, an Associate Fellow of the University of Sussex's Science Policy Research Unit, and the Chair of nonprofit institute the Nuclear Consulting Group. Dr. Dorfman is an expert in nuclear risk and has advised the Irish, UK, French and EU governments on nuclear policy.

Further reading: 

• 'Is nuclear power the key to reaching net zero?', by Paul Dorfman in The New Statesman, August 2023
• 'Saudi nukes: A desire for energy, weapons, or just leverage?' by
  Stasa Salacanin in The Cradle, October 2023
• 'The end of Oppenheimer's energy dream' by Allison Macfarlane in IAI News, July 2023
• 'The West hasn’t gone after Russia’s nuclear energy. Here’s why' by Clare Sebastian in CNN, March 2023
• 'The Debate: Nuclear is already well past its sell-by date' by Paul Dorfman in The New Statesman, May 2022
• 'Nuclear energy isn’t a safe bet in a warming world – here’s why' by Paul Dorfman in The Conversation, June 2021
• 'Things fall apart' by Paul Dorfman in The Ecologist, October 2021

Click here to read our investigation into the UK biomass supply chain, or watch a clip from the BBC Newsnight documentary.