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NPIC&HMIT 2009 |
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Nucleus 3/2000 edition
EU vice-president emphasises key role of nuclear electricity
Nuclear's importance in helping to develop a sustainable European energy policy is being underlined by European Commission vice-president Loyola de Palacio.
"Europe must understand clearly the important role of nuclear, which contributes 35% to (Western) Europe's electricity production," she says.
"Phasing out nuclear would significantly undermine the possibility for Europe to face (two main) challenges: the sustainability of economic growth, which would be jeopardised by (Western) Europe's increased dependency on imports (of energy); and the fulfilment of Kyoto (climate protection) commitments (to curb emissions of global warming gases)." Instead of decreasing such emissions, EU countries are trending towards increasing them – through more use of fossil fuels.
New nuclear plants essential to protect climate, says EU
A major report* for the European Commission says EU countries may have to build new nuclear generating capacity equal to 100 large reactors over the next 25 years, if they are to meet their targets to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide.
The report analyses seven scenarios and shows that only such a high increase in nuclear generating capacity would enable the EU energy sector to meet its share of the overall carbon dioxide reduction target of 8% on 1990 levels by 2010.
Any decrease in nuclear generating capacity (as older plants close) would have its greatest environmental impact after 2025, says the report.
Germany, which currently accounts for some 30% of EU carbon dioxide emissions, has particularly little room for manoeuvre. It is set to exceed its 2010 Kyoto targets even under the 'high nuclear' scenario.
*The contribution of nuclear power to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation, by London-based environmental consultancy ERM Energy. It can be downloaded in PDF format from
Nuclear power 'significant' for energy-hungry world
"The choice of energy options and strategies remains open in the long-term. However, nuclear power should play a significant role in satisfying the world's growing energy requirements in an ecologically friendly way," says a new report on Euratom safety research and the future of nuclear energy.
The report shows that by using nuclear energy the EU annually avoids emitting close to 800 million tonnes of global-warming gas carbon dioxide.
That's equivalent to removing 200 million cars from the roads for a year.
Nuclear is 'fundamental' declares World Energy Council
In planning global energy policies, "quite simply, no energy source should be dropped for arbitrary political reasons".
So declares the WEC Statement 2000: energy for tomorrow's world – acting now.
"Nuclear power is of fundamental importance ... ," says the Statement, "because it is the only energy supply that already has a very large and well-diversified resource (potentially unlimited if breeder reactors are used), is quasi-indigenous, does not emit greenhouse gases, and has favourable or at most slightly unfavourable economics.
"In fact, should the climate-change threat become a reality, nuclear is the only existing power technology that could replace coal in baseload (generation of electricity)."
The Statement continues: "Up to 2020 global reliance on fossil fuels and large hydro will remain strong ... However, total reliance on these energy sources to satisfy the growing electricity demand of the world, especially in the context of two billion additional people who will need it by 2020, is not sustainable.
"The role of nuclear power therefore needs to be stabilised, with the aim of possible future extensions. In parallel, efforts to develop intrinsically safe, affordable nuclear technology need to be encouraged."
The full text is on www.worldenergy.org. The main references to nuclear are in section 5 (Policy Actions).
World's power companies relying on nuclear in future energy mix
Electricity generating companies worldwide are affirming that they will continue to include nuclear in their future energy options because of its environmental benefits and stability of supply.
That's the message from 34 power companies in their answers to an international survey by the Japan Atomic Industrial Forum.
All of the replying companies agree that nuclear electricity will remain part of the liberalised energy market.
Twenty-four of the companies will include nuclear power generation as an option. Eight say they will not, because of anti-nuclear government policies, economic uncertainties and lack of need for more electricity baseload sources.
World nuclear energy production is growing steadily each year
"The nuclear industry is constantly watched, negatively publicised and each minor incident is blown to enormous proportions in the media," writes Professor Andrej Stritar (Slovenia).
"Due to such constant campaigns, the general public could easily gain the impression that our industry is either obsolete, stagnating, or may even soon cease to exist.
"However the facts tell a different story.
"During the last ten years, nuclear energy (production of electricity) has grown faster than (such production by) coal, hydro, oil and even gas.
"The facts indicate that this trend will continue, and we can expect to have between 12.5% and 25% more production of nuclear electricity after the next ten years."
Japan to develop ten more power reactors in this
decade
Ten additional nuclear power reactors will be developed in Japan over the next ten years – that's half the total number set in previous targets.
The slowdown in expansion of the country's nuclear power stations is caused by slower demand for power and by the liberalising of the electricity market.
At present Japan has ten power reactors under construction – and its existing nuclear power plants produce about 35% of the country's electricity.
Brazil switching on second reactor to power its major cities
Brazil is switching on its second reactor at Angra power plant on the Atlantic coast about 130 km south-west of Rio de Janeiro.
The new reactor is of great importance to the São Paolo and Rio de Janeiro economic region with its 50 million population and rapid growth in demand for electricity.
The newest reactor at the Angra plant has been supplied by Siemens of Germany.
EU backs modernising Bulgaria's biggest reactors
The European Commission is to lend Bulgaria 212 million euros for the upgrading of units 5 and 6 at Kozloduy nuclear power plant.
"The project," says the Commission, "will contribute significantly to the environment and general nuclear safety not only of Bulgaria but also of adjacent countries.
The new loan is on condition that Bulgaria closes its older reactors: Kozloduy-1 and -2 by 2003 and -3 and -4 by 2006.