Electrifying the global economy is accepted as a main
decarbonization
lever to reach the Paris Agreement targets. The IEA’s 2050
Net Zero transition pathways all involve some degree of nuclear power,
highlighting its potential as a low-carbon electricity source. Greenhouse
gas emissions of nuclear power reported in the life cycle assessment
literature vary widely, from a few grams of CO
2
equivalents
to more than 100 g/kWh, globally. The reasons for such a variation
are often misunderstood when reported and used by policymakers. To
fill this gap, one can make LCA models explicit, exploring the role
of the most significant parameters, and develop simplified models
for the scientific community, policymakers, and the public. We developed
a parametric cradle-to-grave life cycle model with 20 potentially
significant variables: ore grade, extraction technique, enrichment
technique, and power plant construction requirements, among others.
Average GHG emissions of global nuclear power in 2020 are found to
be 6.1 g CO
2
equiv/kWh, whereas pessimistic and optimistic
scenarios provide extreme values of 5.4–122 g CO
2
equiv/kWh. We also provide simplified models, one per environmental
impact indicator, which can be used to estimate environmental impacts
of electricity generated by a pressurized water reactor without running
the full-scale model.