Brussels Unveils Plan for 'Green' Gas , Nuclear Label

The European Commission unveiled a proposed green label for nuclear and gas power plants on Friday night, with the goal of making it easier to finance facilities that help combat climate change.

According to numerous sources contacted by AFP, the draught text, which has been under debate for months and is still provisional, was submitted to member states shortly before midnight on December 31.

It lays forth the criteria for determining whether or not investments in nuclear or gas-fired power plants for electricity generation are "sustainable," with the goal of channelling "green finance" into initiatives that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

France, which wants to revitalise its nuclear industry, which provides a dependable, low-carbon supply of electricity, and central European countries like Poland and the Czech Republic, who need to replace their extremely polluting coal-fired power plants, have both called for such a text.

This classification allows for lower financing costs, which is critical for both the projects and the states willing to finance them.

Because of the creation of radioactive waste, environmentalists oppose the recognition of gas-fired power stations (which release CO2) and nuclear power. And, lead by Germany, a small group of countries has sought to keep the atom out.

Both pro-gas and pro-nuclear organisations believe, however, that renewable energy (wind, solar, etc.) suffer from intermittent production and will not be able to deliver low-cost electricity in the coming years, and that their output can be managed.

The Brussels plan, which AFP reviewed, establishes conditions for nuclear and gas inclusion, including a time restriction.

Projects for new nuclear power plants will need to secure a building permit before 2045. Before 2040, work to extend the life of existing plants will need to be approved.

Guarantees on waste disposal and the decommissioning of nuclear power plants at the end of their useful lives are also necessary.

For facilities with minimal CO2 emissions, investments in gas, which is classified as a "transitional energy source," will be recognised as "sustainable." The Commission has set high goals, such as emitting less than 100 grammes of CO2 per kWh, which experts say is impossible to achieve with present technologies.

However, there will be a transition period: power plants that acquire their construction permits before December 31, 2030, would have this threshold raised to 270 g of CO2 per kWh, provided they replace existing infrastructures that are significantly more polluting and meet a set of conditions.