Nuclear EnergyNuclear Energy

Meng Runmei u96136

Yu Bing u96177

Content Content

Background of nuclear crisis

Pros and cons of nuclear energy

Conclusion

Nuclear power policies

Economic effect

Japanese earthquake & nuclear crisisJapanese earthquake & nuclear crisis

Chernobyl disasterChernobyl disaster

a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine)

Explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere

approximately 270,000 cancers and death toll over 150,000

The battle to contain the contamination involved over 500,000 workers and cost estimated 18 billion rubles

A sudden power output surge led to a reactor vessel rupture and a series of explosions

From 1986 to 2000, 350,400 people were evacuated and resettled

237 people suffered from acute radiation sickness, of which 31 died within the first three months

Nuclear policies in the U.S.

Atomic Energy Commission nuclear weapons safety regulation of the civilian use of nuclear materials. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy.

Atomic Energy Acts of 1946 and 1954 private sectors sharing the "first mover" cost of certain new reactors which will represent

safety-enhancing evolutionary reactor design promote private companies to upgrade and replace out of time techniques.

Nuclear non-proliferation act of 1978 Limit the spread of nuclear weapons Strengthen the international safeguards system Nuclear non-proliferation treaty(NPT): prevent the spread of nuclear weapons

in return for U.S. Knowledge and materials in the form of nuclear reactors and fuel

Identify domestic sources of alternative energy That is to control over all information, technology and materials relevant to

nuclear activities.

Messmer Plan Since 1973 : energy independence Without public or parliamentary debate a large scale of nuclear energy applications

Nuclear Policy Council in 2008 mid 2010: low-cost, low-carbon base-load power

for the whole of Europ largest electricity exporter EUR 3 billion/ year

Electricity de France & Areva; state owned;technical and commercial agreements

Agence France Nucleaire International (AFNI) deepen and regulate the nuclear related

technology assistance with 40 countries. And function on a fee for service basis

Nuclear policies in France

1991 Waste Management Act (updated 2006) ANDRA deep geological disposal at Bure to 2025 reduction of the quantity and toxicity interim storage of radioactive substances and ultimate

waste MOX fuel stored as a plutonium resource for future fast neutron rea

ctors

August 2010 €100 million for two waste projects The materials – mainly steel and concrete – would be used

exclusively in the nuclear industry. To develop techniques to condition chemically-active

intermediate-level radwastes for final disposal.

Nuclear policies in France

Atomic Energy Basic Law limit only to peaceful purpose &promoting international co-operation

national strategic priority -mid 1966 minimise dependence on current imports. 80% 50 main reactors provide some 30% of the country's electricity and expected to

increase to at >= 40% by 2030. focus on LWRs steadily develop fast breeder reactors in order to improve uranium utilisation

dramatically.

Regulatory Guide for Reviewing Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Reactor Facilities calling for reactor owners with NISA to undertake plant-specific reviews of

seismic safety, to be completed in 2008. after the Fukushima Daiichi plant accident

Nuclear policies in Japan

Nuclear exit law. after the 1998 federal elections phasing out of nuclear energy. Germany using 17 reactors offer 25% to 2036 8 March 2011shutdown Green Party and Social Democratic Party With a new government in 2009, the phase-out has been cancelled.

subsiding renewable industry The average feed-in tariff apart from solar PV is 8.5 c/kWh, or 16.4 cents

including solar PV in 2006 (solar PV being up to 49 cents). feed-in tariffs wind plants are generally 8.2 c/kWh on land and 9.1 c offshore Germany in 2010 legislated for a tax of €145 per gram of uranium or plutonium

fuel for six years, yielding €2.3 billion per year (about 1.6 c/kWh), a levy on nuclear generators of €300 million per year in 2011 and 2012, and €200 million 2013-16, to subsidise renewables, and a tax of €0.9 c/kWh for the same purpose after 2016.

Subsiding coal industry EUR 2.5 billion per year to offer 55% of its electricity 12 more new coal plants in 2007

Nuclear policies in Germany

Pros of nuclear energyPros of nuclear energy

Little pollution compared to Coal, gas and oil burning power plantsReliability unaffected by strikes and shortages around the world, very little is required at a time well distributed around the world.Safety 10,000 to 50,000 Americans die from respiratory diseases 300 are killed in mining and transportation accidents.Phenomenal Energy Output energy produced by fissionable materials is 10 million times energy obtained by burning same mass of coal.

Cons of nuclear energyCons of nuclear energy

High risk technically impossible to build a plant with 100% security preferred targets for terrorist attacks produce weapons of mass destruction like atomic bombs Meltdowns with the lack of a cooling source Radiation cancer, radiation sickness and genetic mutation Waste Disposal radioactive and highly harmful to the environment Radioactivity cannot be turned off there is no way but to bury radioactive waste

Economic influences

offer14% of the world's electricity Japan 50 reactors 30% USA 1 39.4% Germany 17 25% France 58 75%

cost competitive with other forms of electricity generation, except where there is direct access to low-cost fossil fuels.

energy dependent. Fuel costs for nuclear plants

are a minor proportion of total generating costs, though capital costs are greater than those for coal-fired plants and much greater than those for gas-fired plants.

lower external cost

nuclear 0.4

coal 4.0(4.1-7.3)

gas 1.3-2.3

wind 0.1-0.2

cents/kWh

ConclusionConclusion

Waste disposal ,operational Safety, proliferation and radiation

remain to be problems

World policies continue to leaning towards nuclear power.

Humankind cannot conceivably achieve a global clean-energy revolution without a huge expansion of nuclear power

If we are to strive for a sustainable living

the answer will most probably be nuclear power.