Kernenergie: ja, maar dan wel met een rekenmachine in de hand

Analytical article by Ir. Wouter de Heij (Klimaatfeiten.net, May 2025) arguing that the nuclear energy debate in the Netherlands should be grounded in quantitative analysis rather than ideology.

De Heij identifies several cost components that must be included in a complete evaluation: construction, depreciation, maintenance, fuel supply, personnel, and system integration including backup for periods without renewable generation. He applies the Levelised Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and Energy Return on Investment (EROI) as analytical frameworks.

The article notes that the Netherlands has high population density and limited land for onshore wind, and that energy demand is increasing due to electrification of transport and industry. Nuclear power, operating continuously with zero direct CO₂ emissions and a small physical footprint, is presented as one element of a rational energy strategy — provided the full cost picture is calculated in advance.