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Nuclear Energy: Promise and Pitfalls

This talk outlines the history of nuclear power, how it works, future developments, and the potential pitfalls. It discusses the experiences of countries like France and the US, as well as the global nuclear situation and the threat of accidents or terrorism. The talk also explores the possibility of using nuclear power for hydrogen production and the issue of fuel shortage. It concludes by highlighting the storage of spent fuel and providing additional sources for further reading.

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Nuclear Energy: Promise and Pitfalls

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  1. Nuclear Energy: Promise and Pitfalls Elizabeth Lokey Ph.D. Student in Environmental Studies February 23, 2007

  2. Outline for Talk • History of nuclear power • How it works • Future developments • What are its pitfalls Three Mile Island, PN

  3. History of Nuclear Power • 1910 Marie Curie – radioactive properties of radium • 1920- watchmakers use radium to make florescent glow • 1934 Enrico Fermi discovered that bombarding uranium with neutrons creates atoms of other elements • 1945 WWII ends with the atomic bomb • Eisenhower begins “Atoms for Peace”

  4. How it Works

  5. Common Reactor Design

  6. Nuclear: France’s Experience • 75% of country’s energy derived from nuclear • One reactor design repeated – low cost • Fuel reprocessed • Reduces bulk of waste by 80% • 30% is U238 that can be re-enriched for new fuel, 1% plutonium – new fuel or bombs

  7. Pebble Bed Reactor • Helium-cooled • Achieve higher temperatures? • Self-controlled?

  8. Nuclear in Colorado • Helium-cooled • Never Economical • Shut-down in 1989

  9. Renewed Nuclear Interest in the U.S. • New uranium mining permits issued for CO, WY, and UT • Subsidies: • 2004 - $463.8 million for nuclear energy R&D • The Energy Policy Act of 2005 = production tax credit of $.019 per kilowatt hour for new nuclear power, Price-Anderson Act, and more . . . • New licenses • Duke Energy (NC) and the town of Galena (AK) • Licenses good for 40 yrs + 20 yr extension

  10. Global Nuclear Situation – not stagnant • India: 8 plants under construction, 24 more planned • China: 4x as much in 2000 planned for 2010 • Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, and Chile want nuclear

  11. Melt-Down Threat • Chernobyl • 3 Mile Island

  12. Terrorist Threat • Airplane-proof containment domes Indian Point, NY on the Hudson River

  13. The Future: Hydrogen from Nuclear Power? • Water-cracking • 750-1000°C needed

  14. Fuel Shortage? • Price per pound: $9.90 (‘02) to $41.50 (‘06) • ~53 years supply left at current rates of consumption • Solutions: • Seawater extraction • Reprocessing spent fuel • Cost?? Different estimates

  15. Spent Fuel Storage Yucca Mountain

  16. Sources “A Renaissance in Nuclear Energy is Underway Around the World,” Executive Intelligent Review, February 24, 2006,<http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2006/3308nuclear_revival.html> “Department of Energy Announces New Nuclear Energy Initiative,” U.S. DOE, February 6, 2006, http://www.energy.gov/news/3161.htm Highlights of the Bipartisan Energy Bill,” U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, 2005, <http://energy.senate.gov/public/_files/Conferencereportoverviewexpanded080105.doc> “Issues at Operating Uranium Mines and Mills – Other Countries,” June 2006, http://www.wise-uranium.org/umop.html Mark Holt and Carl E. Behrens. “Nuclear Energy Policy,” Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress. Updated July 12, 2004. Nuclear Energy Institute, www.nei.org “Stronger Future for Nuclear Power,” Physics Today, February 2006, <http://www.physicstoday.org/vol-59/iss-2/p19.html> and “Atomic Insights,” Adams Atomic Engines, May 20, 2005, http://www.atomicinsights.com/AI_03-20-05.html “Table 9.3: Uranium Overview 1949-2003,” Energy Information Agency, U.S. Department of Energy <http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/aer/txt/ptb0903.html>. “Timeline of the Chinese Nuclear Industry 1970-2020,” Energy Information Agency, U.S. Department of Energy June 7, 2004 <http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/nuclear/page/nuc_reactors/china/timeline.html>. “Uranium Spot History Price,” Cameco, April 2006, <http://www.cameco.com/investor_relations/ux_history/historical_ux.php>.

  17. Questions?

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