CO2 to fuel using nuclear power: The French case

Abstract In France, the majority of the electricity generated is derived from nuclear energy which has a low CO 2 footprint. A preliminary analysis showed us that, in the French specific context, without any new nuclear power plant construction, the emission of several millions tons of CO 2 could be avoided by using a CO 2 to fuel technology to adjust the electricity produced by nuclear energy to the electricity grid demand. This will not only mitigate CO 2 emissions but could also increase nuclear economic competitiveness. Possibilities of direct using nuclear heat are also under investigation, to improve the efficiency of the global system of conversion.