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The Resurgence of Nuclear Power: Need, Support, and New Technology

This workshop explores the recent resurgence of interest in nuclear power, highlighting the need for nuclear expertise, the support from former opponents, and the advancements in new technology. It covers the comparison of life-cycle emissions, the need for nuclear power to meet future energy demand, and the safety of nuclear power plants. The workshop also discusses the potential of new technologies, such as the Traveling Wave reactor and laser enrichment.

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The Resurgence of Nuclear Power: Need, Support, and New Technology

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  1. Nuclear PowerMohamad Al-Sheikhly1 and John Gutteridge2University of Maryland1United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC)2 Covering Energy Issues A workshop for the Media University of Delaware April 26, 2010

  2. Nuclear Power • Recently there has been a resurgence of interest in Nuclear Power, which has generated a lot of coverage in the media. The topics vary widely but the overarching trend is positive. Common themes are: • Need for Nuclear expertise • Need for Nuclear Power • Former opponents now supporting it • New technology in the field of Nuclear Power

  3. Comparison of Life-Cycle EmissionsTons of Carbon Dioxide

  4. Need for Nuclear Expertise • Alarm over shortage of nuclear experts – Boston Globe – 3 April 2010 • The National Nuclear Security Agency (NNSA) average age of it’s workforce is 47, with 1/4th reaching retirement age by the end of 2012. • National Energy Institute (NEI) estimates 35 percent of workforce at nuclear plants will reach retirement age by 2012 • MIT study concluded that even with no new reactors, hundreds of additional nuclear scientists and engineers need to be graduated each year just to pair current loses.

  5. U.S. Nuclear Energy Facts • Quick view • 104 nuclear plants • 20% of the nation’s electricity • Displaces 680 million metric tons of CO2/yr • Equivalent to 131 million • passengercars/yr

  6. Need for Nuclear Power • 40 New Nuclear Power Plants Will Need To Be Built by 2035 to Help Meet Anticipated U.S. Electrical Energy Demand While Reducing CO2 Emissions – Fox News – 16 Feb 2010 • 40 new plants will provide for an annual 1% increase in US electricity consumption • Nuclear power currently represents only 10% of installed capacity but provides over 20% of electricity, making it highly reliable • Each plant generates 4000 construction jobs and 400 permanent jobs

  7. Need for Nuclear Power • Should the U.S. Expand Nuclear Power? – CBS News – 12 Jan 2010 • US requires 25-30 plants by 2030 just to maintain Nuclear as 20% provider of electricity • Only power generator capable of generating electricity emissions free on a reliable and large scale • Nuclear power plants, averaged over a year, generate 91% of their capability, the highest uptime of any power source

  8. Former opponents now supporting it • Jump starting Nuclear energy – Los Angles Times – 5 March 2010 • Written by a founding member of Greenpeace who now supports Nuclear power • Nuclear reactors currently produce 70% of emissions free energy in the US • It would require $12 Billion and 200,000 acres of wind farms to match the power of one nuclear plant, assuming the wind turbines spun all the time. • Despite safety concerns, no member of the public or plant worker has died from a radiation incident from a power plant in the US.

  9. The Power of Words The Washington Post, April 16, 2006 Going Nuclear A Green Makes the Case By Patrick Moore • “Look at it this way: More than 600 coal-fired electric plants in the United States produce 36 percent of U.S. emissions -- or nearly 10 percent of global emissions -- of CO2, the primary greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.” • “Nuclear energy is the only large-scale, cost-effective energy source that can reduce these emissions while continuing to satisfy a growing demand for power. And these days it can do so safely.”

  10. New technology in the field • Bill Gates and Toshiba discuss nuclear power venture – BBC News – 23 March 2010 • Traveling Wave reactor proposed by Bill Gate’s TerraPower • Has the potential to last up to 100 years without refueling • A mini-reactor that would be more cost-efficient • Suitable for cities or emerging country markets

  11. New technology in the field • Initial success from SILEX test loop – World Nuclear News – 12 April 2010 • Uses laser enrichment to separate U235 and U238 • The process has a much higher separation ratio than other methods • Initial tests have proven successful, prompting expanded tests and support for full scale production • A commercial license could be issues as early as January 2012

  12. The Power of Words The Washington Post, April 16, 2006 Going Nuclear A Green Makes the Case By Patrick Moore • “Look at it this way: More than 600 coal-fired electric plants in the United States produce 36 percent of U.S. emissions -- or nearly 10 percent of global emissions -- of CO2, the primary greenhouse gas responsible for climate change.” • “Nuclear energy is the only large-scale, cost-effective energy source that can reduce these emissions while continuing to satisfy a growing demand for power. And these days it can do so safely.”

  13. Elegant Contrast: Nuclear Safety Newsweek, April 9, 2010 George Will • “29 people killed [April 5, 2010] in the West Virginia coal-mine explosion will soon be as forgotten by the nation as are the 362 miners who were killed in a 1907 explosion in that state, the worst mining disaster in American history.” • “… the number of Americans killed by accidents in 55 years of generating electricity by nuclear power is: 0.” • “That is the same number of Navy submariners and surface sailors injured during six decades of living in very close proximity to reactors.”

  14. The Green Turns Green The Washington Post, April 16, 2006 Going Nuclear A Green Makes the Case By Patrick Moore • “In the early 1970s when I helped found Greenpeace, I believed that nuclear energy was synonymous with nuclear holocaust, …” • “Thirty years on, my views have changed, and the rest of the environmental movement needs to update its views, too, because nuclear energy may just be the energy source that can save our planet from another possible disaster: catastrophic climate change.”

  15. Proven Performance 92% Source: Energy Information Administration/Nuclear Regulatory Commission

  16. 5,787B kWh 3,839B kWh 1970 1980 1990 2003 2015 2025 U.S. Energy Demand America Is Projected to Need 50% More Electricity by 2025 Source: U.S. Department of Energy

  17. Recycling Used Nuclear Fuel Converting Used Fuel Into New Fuel Through recycling, the separated uranium would become new fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. The long-lived radioactive elements, including plutonium, become fuel that could be used in advanced reactors that would be developed commercially as part of the research and development program.Advanced recycling technologies would reduce the volume, heat and toxicity of used nuclear fuel, but not completely eliminate the byproducts. The recycling byproducts would require disposal in a permanent repository

  18. Existing or Expected ESP/COL Applications in the U.S.

  19. 48 Granted 24 Renewal Intent ü Renewal Application Renewal Application 15 In NRCReview Renewal Application Renewal Application Evidence of U.S. Nuclear Revival— License Renewals 17 Not Announced Source: Nuclear News, March 2008

  20. History of Nuclear Education in the United States

  21. Where We Were • 1960’s – 1980’s - ~64 University Research Reactors - ~50+ Nuclear Engineering Programs - 1800+ Students - Ordering and Building NPP’s

  22. Problems Arise • Three Mile Island (1979) and Chernobyl (1986) • Cost of financing Results In: • Loss of public support for nuclear energy • Cancelation of orders • Decline in NE enrollments • Closing/merging of NE programs • Shuttering of research reactors

  23. Addressing the Problem • 1992 – Utility approaches DOE – Matching grant program begins • Mid to late 1990’s – DOE “reinstitutes” several programs • 2000 – “Nuclear Education and Training: Cause for Concern” • Post 2000 – retooling NE education

  24. NE Enrollment Trends(2004-2009) 3805 3341 3086 2941

  25. Summary • As can be seen, the nuclear industry and world is expanding for many reasons to include growing energy demand, clean energy demand, and high reliability • Currently the workforce is undersized to handle this need and is unable to replace future loses due to retirement • As the demand grows, so will the demand for experts in the field and new technology to support new plants • All of the above factors translate into an important position for educational programs that develop nuclear experts and support the need to support and expand these programs

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