Nuclear vs Renewables
A head-to-head, data-driven comparison of nuclear power against solar, wind, and other clean energy sources.
๐จ Lifecycle COโ Emissions grams COโ per kWh
Source: IPCC lifecycle emission estimates (median values)
๐บ๏ธ Land Use kmยฒ per TWh/year
Source: Our World in Data / Lovering et al. Nuclear uses the smallest land footprint of any energy source.
โก Capacity Factor % of time generating at full power
Source: US EIA 2023 data. Nuclear runs 93% of the time - solar averages 15%.
๐ Deaths per TWh including accidents & air pollution
Source: Our World in Data / Markandya & Wilkinson 2007 / Sovacool 2008. Nuclear is among the safest energy sources ever used.
โ๏ธ The Bottom Line
Nuclear Wins At:
- Lowest lifecycle COโ (tied with wind)
- Smallest land footprint by far Highest capacity factor
- Lowest deaths per TWh
- 24/7 reliable baseload power
Renewables Win At:
- Falling construction costs (solar, wind)
- Speed of deployment
- No nuclear waste challenge
- No proliferation concerns
- Modular scaling
Most climate scientists and the IPCC conclude that the world needs both nuclear and renewables to decarbonise fast enough. Nuclear provides the firm low-carbon baseload that stabilises grids when the sun isn't shining and the wind isn't blowing.