Life‐cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with nuclear power generation in the United States

Journal Article · Mon Mar 03 23:00:00 EST 2025 · Journal of Industrial Ecology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.70008· OSTI ID:2529501

Ng, Jun Hong Clarence ^[1]; Vyawahare, Pradeep ^[1]; Benavides, Pahola Thathiana ^[1]; Gan, Yu ^[1]; Sun, Pingping ^[1]; Boardman, Richard ^[2]; Marcinkoski, Jason ^[3]; Elgowainy, Amgad ^[1]

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1. Energy Systems and Infrastructure Analysis Division Argonne National Laboratory Lemont Illinois USA
2. Idaho National Laboratory Idaho Falls Idaho USA
3. Office of Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy Washington District of Columbia USA

Abstract

Under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, tax credits of up to $3/kgH ₂ are available to hydrogen producers if they generate emissions at levels below 0.45 kgCO ₂ e/kgH ₂ , spurring producers to explore how hydrogen production via electrolysis using electricity generated by nuclear power may qualify for such tax credits. With uranium as a primary fuel for nuclear power plants (NPPs) and no on‐site emissions, the upstream emissions associated with nuclear fuel supply chains largely determine the carbon intensity of nuclear energy. Using the GREET (Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Technologies) model, we evaluated the life‐cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of uranium production and the use of uranium to generate electricity in light water reactor (LWR) NPPs. We evaluated the process chemicals and energy inputs throughout the nuclear fuel supply chain to identify the major contributors to nuclear fuel cycle GHG emissions. Such emissions are estimated at 3.0 gCO ₂ e/kWh at NPPs in the United States. The greatest share of nuclear fuel cycle GHG emissions—comprising 53% of total emissions—are associated with electricity consumption throughout the fuel supply chain. We extended the analysis to include an evaluation of the carbon intensity of H ₂ production via electrolysis using nuclear power from LWRs. Finally, we examined the impact of future (2035 and 2050) electricity supply chain scenarios on nuclear fuel cycle GHG emissions. Our analysis revealed a decrease of 33% (2035) and 46% (2050) in the carbon intensity of nuclear electricity relative to current nuclear fuel cycle GHG emissions.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: NONE; AC02-06CH11357
• OSTI ID: 2529501
• Alternate ID(s): OSTI ID: 2529502; OSTI ID: 2588107
• Journal Information: Journal of Industrial Ecology, Journal Name: Journal of Industrial Ecology; ISSN 1088-1980
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English