Correcting Electricity-Production Gap with High-Density Energy Sources
The stability of the energy mix cannot rely solely on gas storage and batteries because photovoltaic and wind technologies can only convert about 30% of solar or wind power into electricity, whereas thermal power from combustion is more efficient. In the short term, the development of nuclear energy does not seem at once necessary, as constructing new nuclear facilities, including small modular reactors, takes years. A notable example of this context is Europe, which saw a 20% drop in gas demand in 2023 due to the combined use of wind and solar energy, along with reduced consumption by citizens and energy-intensive industries. However, in the medium term, nuclear energy will be crucial to meet future electricity capacity needs, which cannot be fulfilled solely through the expansion of batteries and natural gas.