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Life Cycle Environmental Impact Assessment of Nuclear Power

Saadia Ansari2nd Year PhD

School of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester

Adisa Azapagic, Victor Kouloumpis

UNTFApril 2010

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SPRIng ProjectSustainability Assessment of Nuclear Power: An

Integrated Approach (SPRIng)

A multi-criteria decision-support methodology for sustainability assessment of energy options;

 Sustainability assessments of the nuclear option within an energy mix scenarios; and

 Engagement with and communication of the results of research to relevant stakeholders.

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Project Overview

Assess the life cycle environmental impacts of potential future electricity mix scenariosIncorporate new technologiesSpecific focus on the role of nuclear powerIdentify the electricity mix scenarios that meet

targets

springspringLife Cycle Assessment

springspringLife cycle Assessment

Holistic overview of environmental impacts at all stages of a product / technology life cycle

Environmental impact categories:AcidificationEutrophicationGlobal warming potentialOzone layer depletion…

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Nuclear Life Cycle

springspringModelling

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Nuclear life cycle Environmental Impacts

0.00E+00

2.00E-01

4.00E-01

6.00E-01

8.00E-01

1.00E+00

1.20E+00

1.40E+00

1.60E+00

1.80E+00

2.00E+00

g C

O2

e /

kWh

Mining andmilling

Conversion Enrichment Fuel Fabrication Construction Operation WasteManagement

Life cycle stage

Global Warming Potential

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Nuclear life cycle Environmental Impacts

0.00E+00

2.00E-08

4.00E-08

6.00E-08

8.00E-08

1.00E-07

1.20E-07

1.40E-07

g R

-11

e /

kWh

Mining andmilling

Conversion Enrichment FuelFabrication

Construction Operation WasteManagement

Life Cycle Stage

Ozone Layer Depletion

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Nuclear life cycle Environmental Impacts

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UK Electricity mix Environmental Impacts

0

5E+13

1E+14

2E+14

2E+14

3E+14

3E+14

[g C

O2-

Eq

uiv

.]

REF(2008)

N0 N10 N20 N30 N40 N50

% Nuclear Power Penetration

Global Warming Potential

Biomass

Industrial gas

Wind

Solar PV

Oil

Offshore Wind

Nuclear

Natural Gas

French Imports

Hydropower (pumped storage)

Hydropower

Coal

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UK Electricity mix Environmental Impacts

0.00E+00

1.00E+06

2.00E+06

3.00E+06

4.00E+06

5.00E+06

6.00E+06

7.00E+06

[g

R11

-Eq

uiv

.]

REF(2008)

N0 N10 N20 N30 N40 N50

% Nuclear Power Penetration

Ozone Layer Depletion Potential (ODP, steady state)

Biomass

Industrial gas

Wind

Solar PV

Oil

Offshore Wind

Nuclear

Natural Gas

French Imports

Hydropower (pumped storage)

Hydropower

Coal

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UK Electricity mix Environmental Impacts

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

DA

LY

REF(2008)

N0 N10 N20 N30 N40 N50

% Nuclear Power Penetration

Radiological Exposure Potential

Biomass

Industrial gas

Wind

Solar PV

Oil

Offshore Wind

Nuclear

Natural Gas

French Imports

Hydropower (pumped storage)

Hydropower

Coal

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In summary…

Examined the life cycle environmental impacts of all technologies within the current UK electricity mixFossil fuels are the main contributors to most impact

categoriesNuclear has a minor contribution to most impacts

IssuesReliability of existing data / assumptions within dataRelevance to the UKAvailability of data for future technologies

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Next steps…

Access reliable life cycle dataUse of primary data from industry

Model the impacts of future technologies / electricity mix scenarios as defined by SPRIngNext generation reactorsCHPCSP

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Thank you

Any questions???