Nuclear Reactors Boost Electric Reliability, Grid Official Says

Nuclear reactors can shore up energy shortfalls as more wind and solar power are deployed, a top electric grid reliability official told a joint meeting of energy regulators in Washington.

Wind and solar generation “create more uncertainty” because they operate intermittently, failing to replace the generation capacity that is closing, said Mark Lauby, senior vice president and chief engineer for the North American Electric Reliability Corp. (NERC).

NERC’s most recent Long Term Reliability Assessment detailed 83 gigawatts of retirements of fossil-fueled and nuclear generators, replaced by 117 gigawatts of additional generation, through 2033. Lauby said calm days could slow wind ...