SESSION: Thermal, hydro, wind and other Power Plants | Eksploatacioni problemi termo, hidro, vetro i drugih elektrana
papers selected for Symposium Session titled: Thermal, hydro, wind and other Power Plants | Eksploatacioni problemi termo, hidro, vetro i drugih elektrana
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Jasmina Vujić - Department of Nuclear Engineering University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA , Dragoljub Antić - Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences Belgrade, Serbia
title: SUSTAINABLE NUCLEAR ENERGY TRENDS IN THE USA
Abstract text
At the beginning of the 21st century the world is facing considerable energy and environmental challenges. Almost one-third of the world’s population does not have access to electricity. Underdeveloped and developing countries use fossil fuels as the major source of energy today, and will continue using it in the future, unless more affordable and environment-friendly source of electricity is available. Developed countries are concerned about energy security and energy independence. It is becoming clear to many that nuclear energy must play a significant and increasing role in the world’s energy mix.
In order for it to happen, several obstacles must be overcome, including safe disposal of spent fuel and proliferation prevention. A new US national initiative has been considered, referred to as the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP), designed to position the United States to have international influence over the expanding global use of nuclear energy. However, some parts of this initiative have been criticized by the broader nuclear community, and the initiative is currently under the review and possible major revision. The good news is that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) submitted in June a license application for the Yucca Mountain spent fuel repository, and several industrial consortia are planning to construct new nuclear power plants in the US.
Internationally, key nations of the Pacific Rim community are moving ahead aggressively with the expansion of nuclear power capabilities in order to meet growing energy demands while minimizing carbon output. These Pacific Rim nations described nuclear power expansion in terms like “to foster economic growth”, “enhance environmental quality”, “a strategic energy source” and “the backbone of economic growth”. The nuclear sector stakeholders must increase their manufacturing base, science and technology infrastructure (by modernizing facilities), and human capital (training the next generation of nuclear engineers with industrial and federal government commitment).
Realizing the seriousness of energy and environmental situation in the nation, the directors of all ten national laboratories in the U.S. put together a position paper on “A Sustainable Energy Future: The Essential Role of Nuclear Energy,” in August 2008 for the U.S. policy makers, in which they state their joint position regarding specific near-term actions as well as a coherent long term strategy.
In the short term, the United States needs to urgently extend the life of its existing nuclear plants, build new plants, and implement further cost improvements. An integrated approach must be employed to manage nuclear fuel and high-level waste, including interim storage, licensing of the Yucca Mountain Repository, and exploring optimal future waste management options. In the medium- and long-term, recycling of spent fuel and development of advanced fuel cycles must be aggressively pursued, together with the development of advanced Generation IV reactors. Partnering with other countries and international collaboration is highly recommended, in order to assure uninterrupted worldwide fuel supply and effective waste management, thus discouraging the spread of enrichment and reprocessing capabilities. Research and development in advanced safeguards must be emphasized. Expert and expertise must be rebuilt across industry, national laboratories and academia.
