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Energy Context
• U.S. and World are experiencing a growing demand
for energy
• Several potential options for energy supply are being
considered
• All options impact economy, environment, and
security…but in different ways
• All will likely be needed, in some mix, to meet energy
demand
• National policies, technical feasibility, costs and
public perception will be important drivers for how
the mix is determined (not the same in all countries)
Today’s Presentation
• Why nuclear energy should be a significant contributor
• In last month’s talk by Dr. Diamond, he noted, for nuclear
energy:
o Energy Security is National Security
(Uranium is a domestic source of energy)
o Competitive Costs
o No Climate-change Releases
o Proven (Performance and Safety) Record
o Concentrated Form of Energy
ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION 2004
Percent of Total
60
50
40
WORLD
U.S.
30
20
10
0
Oil
Nuclear
Renewables Natural Gas
Coal
U.S. ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION COSTS
1995-2007, In 2007 cents per kilowatt-hour
12
¢/kw-hr
10
Coal
Gas
Nuclear
Petroleum
8
6
4
2
0
5 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07
9
19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Production Costs = Operations and Maintenance Costs + Fuel Costs
Source: Global Energy Decisions
Updated: 5/08
NPPs AROUND THE WORLD
U.
S
.
Sl e
ov
ak
i
Be a
lgi
um
Uk
ra
in
e
Sw
e
Sw den
itz
er
lan
Hu d
ng
Ko ary
re
aR
ep
Bu .
lg
ar
Cz ia
ec
hR
P
Fi
nla
nd
Ja
pa
Ge n
rm
an
y
Fr
an
c
Percent of Electricity
PERCENT OF ELECTRICITY FROM
NUCLEAR ENERGY
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
TOP 10 NUCLEAR GENERATING COUNTRIES
2007, Billion kWh
806.5
418.6
266.4
147.8
U.S.
France
Japan
Russia
136.6
Korea
Rep.
133.2
96.5
Germany Canada
87.2
Ukraine Sweden
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency, U.S. is from Energy Information Administration
Updated: 5/08
64.4
62.6
China
Growing Worldwide Interest in Nuclear
Power
• Countries (12) giving serious consideration to nuclear power
(within 10 years)
Azerbaijan Belarus Egypt Indonesia Kazakhstan Norway Poland
Lithuania Estonia Latvia Turkey Vietnam
• Countries (20) with longer term plans underway
Algeria Australia Chile Georgia Ghana Jordan Libya Malaysia Morocco
Namibia Nigeria Bahrain Kuwait Oman Saudi Arabia Qatar
United Arab Emirates Syria Venezuela Yemen
• Other countries who also participated in 2006 International
Atomic Energy Agency Workshop on Nuclear Power
Cameroon Croatia Kenya Sudan Tanzania Uruguay
* source: U.S. Department of State, International Security Advisory Board Report, April
2008, http://www.nuclear.gov/
Carbon Dioxide Prevented by Nuclear Energy in the Electric Sector
(in million metric tons)
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, 2007
Nuclear and Greenhouse Gases
• Nuclear power plants generate electricity for one in five
homes and businesses in the United States without emitting
any greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide.
• Nuclear energy generates more than 70 percent of all carbonfree electricity in America
• Nuclear energy is the only option available today that can
provide base-load electricity production 24/7 economically
and without emitting greenhouse gases.
• Even if carbon dioxide emissions are evaluated on a total life
cycle basis, those from nuclear energy are comparable to all
other non-emitting sources, such as solar, wind and
hydropower.
* From Nuclear Energy Institute, www.nei.org
Nuclear and Greenhouse Gases (2)
•
Nuclear energy accounted for 36 percent of the voluntary greenhouse
gas reductions (138 million metric tons of carbon dioxide) reported by the
electric power sector in 2005, according to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration.
• The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
and other international and U.S. policy groups recognize that nuclear
energy should play a significant role in global greenhouse gas emission
reduction policies.
• The nuclear energy industry supports federal and other action that
reduces greenhouse gases. A credible program to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions will require a portfolio of technologies and approaches. Nuclear
energy is an indispensable part of that portfolio.
* From Nuclear Energy Institute, www.nei.org
Nuclear Energy’s
Environmental Benefits
“[The United States should] provide opportunities for nuclear power to play a continuing
role in a future low-carbon electricity sector.… Because nuclear power is one of the few
options for no-carbon electricity production, efforts should be made to preserve this option.”
—Pew Center on Global Climate Change
Recommendation in “Agenda for Climate
Action”
“A more diverse mix of voices are taking a positive second look at nuclear energy—
environmentalists, scientists, the media, prominent Republicans and Democrats, and
progressive think tanks. They are all coming to a similar conclusion: If we are to meet the
growing electricity needs in this country and also address global climate change, nuclear
energy has a crucial role to play.”
—Patrick Moore
Co-founder, Greenpeace
Co-chair, Clean and Safe Energy Coalition
“Nuclear energy is the best option to curb carbon emissions.”
—Dr. R.K. Pachauri
Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
* From Nuclear Energy Institute, www.nei.org
THE SOURCE: FISSION
• Fission is the splitting of a nucleus into two or
more separate nuclei of comparable mass
• One neutron interacts with one “fissionable”
nucleus (Uranium for example)
• Results are:
– Fission Products – Two heavy nuclides
• One heavier than the other (Average ratio of ~ 2 : 3 )
– Neutrons – 2.43 on average emitted / fission
• Important that more neutrons are produced than are used to cause one
fission
– Gamma rays, beta particles
2
E
=
mc
– Energy !!
ONE TRUCK (2 TONNES URANIUM)
= 25 TRAINLOADS (260,000
TONNES COAL)
LAND USEAGE
Proliferation and Security Concerns
• For nuclear energy systems, we distinguish two
adversaries:
o Host state decides to proliferate using its nuclear energy
systems
o Non-host entity (e.g. terrorist), threatens host with theft
and/or sabotage
• For host state, must have adequate international
safeguards through the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) and related organizations
• For non-host entity, national programs must be in
place to prevent and manage threats
Potential Host State Threats…and
Solutions
• Host state threat types
o Diversion of Materials to Weapons Programs
o Misuse of Energy Facilities
o Breakout from International Treaty Obligations
• Long history of success of IAEA in limiting spread of nuclear
weapons (Nobel peace prize)
• Historically weapons programs have not arisen through
nuclear energy programs
• International nuclear fuel supply banks and spent fuel takeback programs can help to reduce proliferation risk
• Future designs may incorporate intrinsic features and
advanced safeguards that would further reduce risk
Nuclear Plant Security Zones
Owner
Controlled Area
Protected Area
Double Fence
Protected
Area
Vital Area
Access Control Points
WASTE DISPOSAL
• A concern to many people
• Used (spent) nuclear fuel consists of
ceramic pellets encased in metal
tubes…and still contains much useful
energy
• Current solution: On-site storage at
nuclear power plant sites
DRY STORAGE IN CASKS ON SITE
YUCCA MOUNTAIN SITE
TRANSPORTATION
• Over the last 40 years, 3,000 shipments of spent nuclear
fuel on 1.7 million miles of U.S. roads performed safely
• Each shipment carefully packaged and monitored
– Casks are ~15 times thicker than a gasoline tank
truck shell and include 3 inches of stainless steel
with thick lead radiation shields
– Typically for every ton of spent fuel there are 3 tons
of protective packaging
THE FUTURE OF NUCLEAR POWER
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
51 US plants have obtained extensions of their 40-year license to enable operation to
60 years--41 more are pending…and 34 new units are proposed for the next few years
Nuclear energy is the only option available today that can provide base-load
electricity production economically and without emitting greenhouse gases.
Trends in safety and operation have been excellent.
Nuclear waste disposal remains as an institutional challenge – technical solutions
already exist
Proliferation and terrorism being addressed nationally and internationally – concerns
will exists even without nuclear power
Worldwide interest in increased deployment of nuclear power
We need to continue as a world leader in the nuclear arena
 Nuclear power will be part of the energy mix for
the foreseeable future