SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh

1. SustainableEngineering@Edinburgh Group 10: Nuclear Energy : A Role in Sustainable Energy?By: Russell Stewart (0563198), Zhao Xiao Nan (0786555), Mark Keane (0789272), James Lee (0570782)IMS3/MSFM3 Sustainability Module, March 2008 • Introduction • Nuclear energy has become a topical subject recently. • CO2 emissions need reduced by 60% on 1990 levels by 2050 in UK. • Nuclear Power provides CO2-free energy supply. • Provides energy security. • Provides CO2 free support for hydrogen fuel industry. • Current UK Nuclear Plants approaching decommissioning. • Issues Concerning Sustainability • Cost • Economically, nuclear is becoming viable. • EU Carbon Credit Scheme will charge for CO2 emissions. • This will increase price of fossil fuel energy. • Nuclear will become economically attractive. • Waste • Currently no long-term solution. • Geological disposal is favoured. • Waste minimised through enforcement of regulations. • Concerns over uranium mining waste. • In-situ leaching has overcome this, not producing waste. • For all nuclear waste, long-term solution required. • Political Stance and Public Perception • Government believes nuclear energy would be in public interest. • However, public not educated on benefits and tainted by Chernobyl disaster. • Public support vital for sustainability. • Government support for private company investment in nuclear energy. • Safety • Safety is public perception problem. • Excellent safety record, risks are small. • Retain strict adherence to safety protocols. • Worldwide,10000 years overall safe operation, reactors are fail-safe in design. • Proliferation • Technology to reduce CO2 must be available to all countries. • Measures against proliferation of weapons • grade material. • Strict Regulations required to prevent this. • Conclusion • For nuclear to be sustainable: • Carbon credits, or incentive against fossil fuels for pro ‘clean’. • Clear plans and implementation for waste disposal and decommissioning. • Clear safety protocols in place and enforcement of these. • Clear global strategies against proliferation involving multi national checks and monitoring. • Involvement and investment from private sector, encouraged by government incentives. Country Billion KWh CO2 Avoided France 430.9 430 MTon Germany 154.6 154 MTon S Korea 139.3 139 MTon Russia 137.3 137 MTon UK 75.2 75 MTon USA 780.5 780 MTon Fig 1. Global Nuclear States • References • Meeting the Energy Challenge: A White Paper on Nuclear Power. Rt. Hon. John Hutton MP, Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform 2008. 192PP. • The Future of Nuclear Power. An Interdisciplinary MIT Study. Deutch. J and Moniz. E. 2003. 180PP. • Global Utilities, Trading Climate Change –Issue 1. JP Morgan. 2007. 72PP. • Nuclear Power and its Environmental Effects. Glasstone. S and Jordan. W.H. 1980. 387PP.