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Does nuclear energy provide an answer to global warming?

Delve into the debate on whether nuclear energy truly offers a solution to global warming. Analyzing CO2 emissions, costs, efficiency, and alternative options, this comprehensive review challenges the common myth surrounding nuclear power.

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Does nuclear energy provide an answer to global warming?

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  1. Does nuclear energy provide an answer to global warming? Dr Ian FairlieConsultant on Radiation in the EnvironmentLondon, United Kingdom www.ianfairlie.org

  2. Global Warming • widespread concern • need carbon-free alternatives • many think nuclear = a solution • comfortable myth

  3. Does nuclear provide an answer? • not carbon-free • only ever make small contribution • economically, the worst way

  4. How carbon-free is nuclear?

  5. Nuclear Fuel Cycle and CO2 • uranium mining + milling • UF6 conversion • U-235 fuel enrichment • nuclear fuel fabrication • fuel transportation • reactor operation • waste encapsulation • waste transportation • future waste disposal?

  6. Nuclear Life Cycle Analyses ~ 300 nuclear LCAs in last decade most aimed =nuclear is the answer most worthless only 8 are comprehensive, rigorous

  7. CO2 emissions mainly depend on • uranium ore grade, ore type • U-235 enrichment method • future waste method eg underground repository?

  8. CO2 and U ore grade

  9. nuclear LCAs

  10. Three Independent Studies • BJ Sovacool 2008: Valuing the GHG Emissions from Nuclear Power. Energy Policy, 36, 2940 • Nugent, Sovacool 2014 Assessing the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from solar PV and wind energy: A critical meta-survey . Energy Policy 65. 229–244 • K Barnam 2015 The Burning Answer, Weidenfeld and Nicolson

  11. Is nuclear power a cost effective way to reduce CO2 ?

  12. compare 1. Renewable energy 2. High efficiency technology, eg CHP 3. Biomass 4. Low carbon fuels, eg gas not coal 5. Greater energy efficiency in homes etc 6. Nuclear power

  13. CO2 saved per $ spent

  14. Nuclear Power? • very high construction costs • very high generation costs

  15. Nuclear construction costs • proposed Hinkley C = C $48 billion • 2 x cost of 2012 UK Olympic Games • requires enormous Government subsidies, insurance guarantees, R&D, and market interventions

  16. increasing costs (per kW installed)

  17. Renewable Energy Cost Trends November 2005 (levelised sent-out cost of energy in constant 2005 US$, excluding subsidies) Source: US NREL Energy Analysis Office www.nrel.gov/analysis/docs/cost_curves_2005.ppt

  18. Nuclear Generating Costs • Also very high due to high capital costs • Recent proposed deal with EdF = £92.50 per MWh = ~double the present cost • Higher than all renewables • Deal universally panned

  19. generating costs cents per kWh

  20. nuclear vs photovoltaic

  21. Nuclear Renaissance? • globally, in last decade, >30 GW nuclear capacity closed • 70 GW wind + 70 GW solarthermal capacity installed

  22. Jobshttp://energytransition.de/wp-content/themes/boell/pdf/en/German-Energy-Transition_en.pdfJobshttp://energytransition.de/wp-content/themes/boell/pdf/en/German-Energy-Transition_en.pdf

  23. Conclusions • v small contribution to CO2 reduction • cheaper, more cost effective, quicker, safer, options = Renewables and Energy Efficiency

  24. Which direction? • Germany, Switzerland, Italy exiting • Siemens, E.ON, RWE exiting • Gentilly-2 closed, Pickering to close by 2020 • Vermont Yankee, San Onofre closed

  25. A renewable future

  26. Öko Institut, Comparison of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Abatement - Cost of Nuclear and Alternative Energy Options from a Life-Cycle Perspective, January 2006 • House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Sixth Report “Keeping the lights on: Nuclear, Renewables and Climate Change” April 2006) http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmenvaud/584/58407.htm#a14 • Sustainable Development Commission Report “The role of nuclear power in a low carbon economy”http://www.sd-commission.org.uk/publications.php?id=344 • US Department of Energy. National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Energy Analysis Office www.nrel.gov/analysis/docs/cost_curves_2005.ppt • Jan Willem Storm van Leeuwen and Philip Smith(2006) “Nuclear power - the energy balance” • Sovacool (2008), wind and solar PV from Nugent and Sovacool (2014), fracking from Hultman et al (2011). • Daniel Nugent , BenjaminK.Sovacool (2014) Assessing the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from solar PV and wind energy: A critical meta-survey . Energy Policy 65 229–244 • Sovacool BK 2008.Valuing the greenhouse gas emissions from nuclear power:a critical survey. Energy Policy 36(8), 2940–2953.

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