The Role of Nuclear Energy in a Low-carbon Energy Future [electronic resource] /
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentContributor
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentContent Provider
Paris : OECD Publishing,
2012.
This report assesses the role that nuclear energy can play in supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy system. It begins by considering the greenhouse gas emissions from the full nuclear fuel cycle, reviewing recent studies on indirect emissions and assessing the impact that nuclear power could make in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report provides estimates of the construction rates that would be needed to meet the projected expansion of nuclear power foreseen by many energy scenarios published by international organisations. It then assesses the economic, technical, societal and institutional challenges represented by such an expansion to identify the most significant barriers. The capacity of nuclear power plants to operate in an electricity system with a large share of renewables, and the impact of smart grid technologies are also examined. Finally, long-term prospects for nuclear energy are discussed in terms of development of new reactor and fuel cycle technologies, non-electric applications and new operational and regulatory constraints that could arise as a consequence of climate change.
Executive summary 9 1. Introduction 13 2. Greenhouse gas emissions from the nuclear cycle&nbsp;17 -2.1. Life-cycle assessment of emissions from nuclear power 18 -2.2. Emissions from future nuclear fuel cycles 23 -2.3. Nuclear energy’s contribution to today’s emissions reductions&nbsp; 27 3. Status of nuclear power and outlook to 2050&nbsp;33 -3.1. Current status 33 -3.2. Scenarios for nuclear energy expansion to 2050 35 -3.3. Required rates of construction of nuclear power plants 39 4. Economic, technical, societal, institutional and legal factors affecting nuclear expansion 47 -4.1. Financing and investment 47 -4.2. Industrial infrastructure 50 -4.3. Skilled labour and knowledge management51 -4.4. Uranium and the nuclear fuel cycle 52 -4.5. Siting considerations&nbsp;56 -4.6. Radioactive waste management 57 -4.7. Standardisation of reactor designs&nbsp;59 -4.8. Public acceptance&nbsp; 63 -4.9. Institutional and legal frameworks 64 5. Impact of developments in the electricity supply system 69 -5.1. Nuclear power plants in a future electricity generation system 69 -5.2. Nuclear power and "smart grids"&nbsp;72 6. Longer-term perspectives for nuclear energy&nbsp;77 -6.1. Generation IV nuclear systems 77 -6.2. Accelerator-driven systems 79 -6.3. Small modular reactors 80 -6.4. Non-electric applications 81 -6.5. Adaptation to climate change 82 7. Summary and conclusions 85 Annex 1. Abbreviations&nbsp;91 Annex 2. List of experts 92  
This report assesses the role that nuclear energy can play in supporting the transition to a low-carbon energy system. It begins by considering the greenhouse gas emissions from the full nuclear fuel cycle, reviewing recent studies on indirect emissions and assessing the impact that nuclear power could make in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The report provides estimates of the construction rates that would be needed to meet the projected expansion of nuclear power foreseen by many energy scenarios published by international organisations. It then assesses the economic, technical, societal and institutional challenges represented by such an expansion to identify the most significant barriers. The capacity of nuclear power plants to operate in an electricity system with a large share of renewables, and the impact of smart grid technologies are also examined. Finally, long-term prospects for nuclear energy are discussed in terms of development of new reactor and fuel cycle technologies, non-electric applications and new operational and regulatory constraints that could arise as a consequence of climate change.
Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph
Nuclear Energy
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering & Applied Sciences
Nuclear Engineering