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COP26: Supporting the global ambition to reach net zero
01 November 2021
Achieving a net zero future is a shared global ambition to balance the production and removal of carbon emissions to reduce the acceleration of climate change. How the world will accomplish this is the main focus of the United Nations COP26 summit taking place over the next two weeks. We are pleased to be supporting the nuclear industry at COP26 as we believe that nuclear will play a vital role in the world’s journey to realising crucial climate goals.
Nuclear’s ability to supply reliable, low carbon energy complements renewables and hydrogen perfectly as we move away from fossil fuels. Urenco’s position, providing essential enrichment services for the nuclear fuel cycle, facilitates zero carbon electricity generation for consumers globally. However, our sustainability ambitions do not stop here.
We are investing in new technologies that increase the contribution nuclear energy can make to a greener future. We are exploring the development of advanced fuels as well as supporting the design and build of an advanced modular reactor, U-Battery, that will provide low carbon, reliable energy for power intensive industries and remote locations.
Exciting innovations from NPROXX, a subsidiary of Urenco’s joint venture ETC, are also on the horizon, including London’s first hydrogen-powered ambulance that is set to take to the road later this year.
And we are dedicated to reducing our own carbon emissions through our membership and participation in The Climate Pledge – a commitment made by over 200 companies to achieve net zero by 2040. In 2020 we reduced our energy consumption by 2%, emissions by 9% and water usage by 10%, and we hope to continue building on this excellent progress.
We are currently defining new sustainability key performance indicators and our roadmap to net zero in advance of 2040 as part of our commitment to The Climate Pledge. The roadmap will set science aligned targets covering our scope 1, 2 and 3 and focus on the areas of ‘operational energy efficiency, ‘supply chain engagement and ‘energy procurement and onsite generation’, followed by neutralising residual emissions.
Boris Schucht, Urenco’s CEO, said: “It is very clear that we will need all available CO2 free alternatives and technologies to achieve net zero – the problem is too big to exclude one of these options. We will continue to work together as an industry and support policy makers in this critical work, paving the way for the delivery of net zero.”
See the NIA COP26 virtual HUB Net Zero Needs Nuclear
About Urenco
Urenco is an international supplier of enrichment services and fuel cycle products with sustainability at the core of its business. Operating in a pivotal area of the nuclear fuel supply chain for 50 years, Urenco facilitates zero carbon electricity generation for consumers around the world.
With its head office near London, UK, Urenco’s global presence ensures diversity and security of supply for customers through enrichment facilities in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK and the USA. Using centrifuge technology designed and developed by Urenco, and through the expertise of our people, the Urenco Group provides safe, cost effective and reliable services; operating within a framework of high environmental, social and governance standards, complementing international safeguards.
Urenco is committed to continued investment in the responsible management of nuclear materials; innovation activities with clear sustainability benefits, such as nuclear medicine, industrial efficiency and research; and nurturing the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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