Evaluating Nuclear Energy as Part of Kenya's Clean, Reliable Energy Future (Text Version)

Video opens with logos of NICE Future, Clean Energy Ministerial, Idaho National Laboratory, Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Speaker on camera with text reading, Shannon Bragg-Sitton, Ph.D., Director, Integrated Energy and Storage Systems Division, Idaho National Laboratory, USA

(Shannon) Nuclear energy is an important contributor to the global clean energy supply, both as a primary source of emissions-free energy, and as an enabler to other clean energy sources. 

Visual of the Earth from space, text on screen reads Clean Energy Future, or NICE Future initiative, followed by video of power lines, workers at a power plant

As an international initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial, the Nuclear Innovation: Clean Energy Future, or NICE Future initiative, leads the global conversation on the multiple roles that nuclear energy can play in clean energy systems of the future, working alongside renewable energy technologies. 

Speaker on camera, Shannon Bragg-Sitton on camera, transitions to visuals of the RISE3 report pages

To accelerate the adoption of clean energy, the NICE Future initiative recently launched a campaign to Research the Impacts on Social Equity and Economic Empowerment, or RISE3. RISE3 provides expert resources to create a blueprint for countries transitioning to a clean and just energy economy with nuclear innovation.

Speaker on camera, Shannon Bragg-Sitton on camera

The study we are conducting with Kenya to evaluate the economic and jobs impacts of adopting nuclear energy will provide an example to other nations wishing to move forward in this clean energy transition. 

Speaker on camera with text reading, Joe Mwangi, Senior Chemist, Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, Kenya

(Joe) Nuclear energy provides a lot of opportunities, such as energy security.

Full screen graphic with icons representing clean energy sources

Our energy sources from Kenya come from mainly geothermal, hydro, solar, wind, and interconnectivity with neighboring country.

 

Speaker, Joe Mwangi on camera, transitions to photos of speakers and presentations in Kenya

By introducing nuclear energy, we expand our portfolio, diversifying our sources of supply and therefore enhancing energy security in our country.

Through the NICE Future Initiative activities, we look forward to finding solutions and good recommendations on opportunities that the nuclear power program brings to the long-term solutions to our economic growth.

Speaker on camera with text reading, Jordan Cox, Ph. D., Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, USA

(Jordan) Currently, the NICE Future Initiative is conducting a study in partnership with members of Kenya’s energy ministry, Idaho National Laboratory, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

Visuals of Jordan Cox pointing to model visuals on a large monitor, visuals of model visuals

This study is looking at how nuclear energy can contribute to Kenya’s clean energy goals and how nuclear energy can integrate with Kenya’s broader energy portfolio which already includes significant Hydropower, Geothermal, and Wind resources.

Speaker on camera with text reading, Haydn C. Bryan, Nuclear Energy Economist, Idaho National Laboratory, USA

(Haydn) Idaho National Laboratory’s role within the NICE Future initiative is to examine how nuclear technologies can economically and reliably decarbonize non-grid energy end users.

Side-by-side speaker on camera and graphic with text reading “INL’s Research Focus: Industrial combined heat and power, seawater desalination, microgrids

Specifically, our research focuses on industrial combined heat and power, seawater desalination, and microgrids, finding a large potential for nuclear deployment. A focus is placed on how these applications can help enable Kenya’s pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. 

Speaker on camera, Jordan Cox

After creating capacity expansion and economic impact models, this study produced five major takeaways.

Full screen visual with text as follows:

First, adding nuclear energy into the energy mix reduces systemwide energy costs.

Second, adding nuclear energy into the energy mix increases renewable deployments, especially wind. This is due to smaller, more flexible reactors that can respond to changes in wind output.

Third, nuclear energy increases local jobs and positively affects the local economy it is built in.

Fourth, nuclear energy decreases dependence of Kenya on foreign fuels and reduces fuel imports.

Fifth, nuclear energy enables local industry when it is coupled to thermally driven process.

Speaker on camera with text reading, Anna Wrobel, Nuclear Energy Economist, Idaho National Laboratory, USA

(Anna) Kenya has made great strides in increasing access to electricity and setting ambitious decarbonization goals. Nuclear power stands as a promising technology to help reduce the emissions from difficult-to-decarbonize sectors and provide reliable baseload power to non-grid connected communities. 

Video of Jordan Cox looking at computer, model visuals on screen, transitions to speaker Jordan Cox on camera

(Jordan) These findings are show that nuclear energy can be a valuable part of a clean energy system and, when considered alongside renewables, can help countries meet their clean energy goals while also benefiting their economies and reducing costs to energy consumers.

Video ends with logos of NICE Future, Clean Energy Ministerial, Idaho National Laboratory, Nuclear Power and Energy Agency, National Renewable Energy Laboratory