7. Nuclear Energy and the Environment

2021 ◽  
pp. 405-452
Author(s):  
Alan Boyle ◽  
Catherine Redgwell
Keyword(s):  
Competing Risks ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Toxic Substances ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Perceptions Of Risk ◽  
Regulatory Standards ◽  
Chernobyl Reactor

This chapter gives the example of the Chernobyl reactor accident in 1986 to show that nuclear power creates risks for all states, irrespective of whether they choose this type of energy. Every state, and the global environment, is potentially affected by the possibility of radioactive contamination, the spread of toxic substances derived from nuclear energy, and the long-term health hazards consequent on exposure to radiation. Whether the nuclear power industry has now attained acceptable levels of risk to international society cannot be answered in the abstract, the chapter argues, or solely by reference to regulatory standards and technical capabilities, but must take into account public perceptions of risk, as well as the alternatives and the competing risks, such as climate change. The chapter notes that for all governments there are inevitably difficult policy choices in which there are few electoral advantages.

Danube Field Excursion 1988: Tritium Content of River Water; Radioactivity of Danube Sediments

1990 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 203-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Rank ◽  
F. J. Maringer ◽  
W. Papesch ◽  
V. Rajner
Keyword(s):  
River Water ◽  
Bottom Sediments ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Radioactive Material ◽  
Reactor Accident ◽  
Tritium Content ◽  
Fine Sediments ◽  
Fish Samples ◽  
Field Excursion

Water, sediment, and fish samples were collected during the Danube excursion 1988, within a coordinated sampling program of the Radiology Working Group of the “Internationale Arbeitsgemeinschaft Donauforschung ” (K.Hübel, Munich; I. Kurcz, Budapest; D.Rank, Vienna). The H-3 content of the river water and the radioactivity of the bottom sediments were measured at the BVFA Arsenal, Vienna. The determined H-3 content of the Danube water corresponds with the long-term trend in the H-3 content of the hydrosphere; the values lie in the range of 3 Bq/kg downstream from Belgrade, upstream from Belgrade they are about 4 Bq/kg. It was only in the waste water plume of the nuclear power station of Kozloduj that a slightly elevated H-3 value - 6 Bq/kg - was determined. The content of the sediments of artificial radionuclides was found, at the time of the Danube field excursion, to be almost exclusively due to the radioactive material released following the reactor accident at Chernobyl in April 1986 (mainly Cs-137 and Cs-134). As a consequence of the air currents and precipitation conditions prevailing at the time of the accident, the bottom sediments in the lower course of the Danube were less contaminated than those in the upper course. The fine sediments were found to contain over 3000 Bq/kg of Cs-137 in the upper course of the Danube.

scholarly journals The Armenian nuclear power plant: problems of electricity export

2018 ◽  
Vol 212 ◽  
pp. 02010
Author(s):  
Vahe Davtyan
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Power Market ◽  
Electric Power Market ◽  
South Caucasus ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Armenian Nuclear Power Plant

The prerequisites for the development of Armenia’s nuclear power industry are indicated. The main geopolitical problems of operation of the Armenian NPP are revealed through studying the electric power market of the South Caucasus with the definition of the export opportunities of Armenia. The main problems of nuclear fuel supplies to the Armenian NPP are studied. Recommendations are given on the long-term development of nuclear energy in Armenia.

Sustainable Development of China With Nuclear Energy System Beyond Generation-IV

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiwei Zhou ◽  
Hong Xu ◽  
Yongwei Yang
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Nuclear Fission ◽  
Hybrid Reactor ◽  
Fissile Material ◽  
Nuclear Power Generation

Two aspects of the development trend of current nuclear fission technology are discussed. The first aspect is to improve economic competitiveness and safety for searching opportunity of enlarging the share of nuclear power. The second aspect is to explore new ways of improving the efficiency of nuclear fuel utilization and of reducing the geological repository volume of radioactive products from nuclear power generation. Sustainable development of Chinese economy in 21st century will mainly rely on sustainable supply of clean energy with indigenous natural resources. The burden of current coal-dominant energy mix and the environmental pollution due to energy consumptions has led nuclear power to be an indispensable choice for further expanding electricity generation capacity and for reducing greenhouse effect gases emission in China. The long-term sustainable development strategy with nuclear fission technology beyond generation-IV for electric power generation, namely the fusion-fission hybrid subcritical reactor technology, is discussed. The impact of the proposed fission-fusion hybrid reactor to future nuclear power generation technology will reply on the success of the ITER-scale (500MW fusion power) Tokamak to burn plasma continuously in the predictable future. The main challenges and prospects of the strategy are also analyzed. The preliminary analysis has shown that the fission in the subcritical blanket driven by fusion neutrons can effectively amplify the energy carried by fusion neutron and maintain breeding of fissile material and tritium. It has been found from the results of a conceptual design that this new type of fusion-fission hybrid reactor may meet the requirement of China’s long-term sustainable development of nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy in Europe faces uncertain future

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Investor Confidence ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Nuclear Plants ◽  
Attractive Option ◽  
Uncertain Future

Significance The government's decision to delay its approval has raised questions about how and whether nuclear power will be developed further in the United Kingdom. The renewed uncertainty will do little to bolster the fortunes of the technology elsewhere in Europe. Impacts The high cost of new nuclear plants often makes government support necessary, which could lead to conflict with the European Commission. With investor confidence already low, the loss of Hinkley Point would adversely affect other proposed nuclear projects. The falling cost of renewable energy could make nuclear a less attractive option in the long term.

scholarly journals Social Media: useful for high-risk industries? A study of nuclear energy in Spain

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 143-154
Author(s):  
Enrique Cobos-Urbina
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Corporate Reputation ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
Nuclear Power Plants ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Communication Tools ◽  
Term Operation

Social Media has become an unquestionable communicative tool for most organizations. Companies want to participate in the conversation on the network for various purposes: attracting new customers, promoting their products, exalting their brand, searching for prescribers, etc. However, those corporations that belong to risk sectors –as is the case of nuclear power plants– show initial suspicion because they consider that new forms of communication contribute to encouraging criticism of their business model, producing a deterioration in their image. The methodology used in this research is based on three pillars: a review of the literature on CSR, corporate reputation, Social Media and Nuclear Communication; exploration of Social Media in search of official profiles of nuclear power plants; and interviews with those responsible for communicating atomic plants to know their perception in the use of these supports. Spanish nuclear power plants do not actively use Social Media. These facilities rely on monologic communication tools and tactics, although they need dialogue for acceptance and long-term operation. Social Media are essential tools for risk sectors: to disseminate the science they make, to collect feedback and respond to criticism, and to seek consensus.

OECD/NEA Activities to Support Long Term Operation

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 707-711
Author(s):  
Andrei Blahoianu ◽  
◽  
Alejandro Huerta ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Nuclear Energy ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Energy Agency ◽  
Term Operation ◽  
Plant Life

The Integrity and Aging of Components and Structures Working Group (IAGE) of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)/Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) was established under the Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) for three reasons: (i) to advance the current understanding of those aspects relevant to ensuring the integrity of structures, systems, and components ; (ii) to provide for guidance in choosing the optimal ways to handle challenges to the integrity of operating as well as new nuclear power plants, and (iii) to take an integrated approach to design, safety, and nuclear power plant life management. The group operates through annual plenary meetings and technical workshops and by issuing state-of-the-art reports and topical opinion papers. This paper details some recent IAGE activities and products, focusing on those dealing with the degradationmechanisms of metal and concrete components.

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