Nuclear PowerNuclear Power

Isar Plant - GermanyIsar Plant - Germany Diablo Canyon - CaliforniaDiablo Canyon - California

Nuclear Power – The Nuclear Power – The factsfacts

• Nuclear power - like wind, hydro and solar Nuclear power - like wind, hydro and solar energy - emits no carbon dioxideenergy - emits no carbon dioxide

• Proven technology with base-load Proven technology with base-load electrical power production capacity electrical power production capacity >1,000MW/plant>1,000MW/plant

• Used worldwide; good safety track record Used worldwide; good safety track record despite TMI and Chernobyldespite TMI and Chernobyl- Much safer than coal-fired power both from Much safer than coal-fired power both from

an industrial (mining) and public health an industrial (mining) and public health perspectiveperspective

• There are significant issues:There are significant issues:• Environmental impacts, costs, aging plants, Environmental impacts, costs, aging plants,

waste disposal, nuclear proliferation, security, waste disposal, nuclear proliferation, security, and public safety perceptionsand public safety perceptions

Nuclear Power Nuclear Power ProjectionsProjections

• More nuclear plants may be needed to More nuclear plants may be needed to meet growing electric power demandmeet growing electric power demand- International Energy Agency estimates International Energy Agency estimates

renewable plants will only reach 6% of renewable plants will only reach 6% of worldwide supply capacity by 2030worldwide supply capacity by 2030

- Population increase from ~6.5B to 9B by Population increase from ~6.5B to 9B by 2100 2100

- Standard of living rising across the globe with Standard of living rising across the globe with higher electrical demand – will double by higher electrical demand – will double by 20502050

- Nuclear energy production likely to continue Nuclear energy production likely to continue to grow globally – especially in light of to grow globally – especially in light of controls being placed on carbon emissionscontrols being placed on carbon emissions

Nuclear WorldwideNuclear Worldwide2007: 439 commercial 2007: 439 commercial reactors in 30 countries; reactors in 30 countries; 372,000 MW372,000 MW- Efficiency improving in both Efficiency improving in both

design & operationdesign & operation- Newer plants more efficient Newer plants more efficient

>1,000 MW capacity>1,000 MW capacity- Nuclear reactors currently supply Nuclear reactors currently supply

16% world’s power16% world’s power- 2,625 billion KWH in 2005; 2,625 billion KWH in 2005;

~30% produced in the US~30% produced in the US

As of 2001

Source: World Nuclear AssociationSource: World Nuclear Association

US 2005 total: 97,400MW cap. 782 billion KWH

How does it compare?How does it compare?

Nuclear Power - How it Nuclear Power - How it worksworks

Uranium Uranium MiningMining

• Canada (25%), Australia Canada (25%), Australia (19%), Kazakhstan (16%) (19%), Kazakhstan (16%) are world’s largest uranium are world’s largest uranium ore producers (U.S. 4%)ore producers (U.S. 4%)

• Removal methods:Removal methods:- Underground 41%Underground 41%- Open pit 24%Open pit 24%- In situ leach (ISL) 26%In situ leach (ISL) 26%- By-product 9%By-product 9%

• Environmental & Health Environmental & Health RisksRisks- Land use impactsLand use impacts- Waste impactsWaste impacts- Operational risksOperational risks- Health risksHealth risks

Highland ISL Mine, WyomingHighland ISL Mine, Wyoming

Source: World Nuclear AssociationSource: World Nuclear Association

McArthur River Mine McArthur River Mine CanadaCanada

Nuclear Nuclear Fuel Fuel CycleCycle

• Each fuel pellet = energy of Each fuel pellet = energy of 150 gallons of oil150 gallons of oil- Pellets encased in metal tubes Pellets encased in metal tubes

bundled into a fuel assemblybundled into a fuel assembly• Spent fuel is a hazardous Spent fuel is a hazardous

radioactive wasteradioactive waste- US: No pathway to disposal; US: No pathway to disposal;

spent fuel is stored in pools or spent fuel is stored in pools or casks at power plant sitescasks at power plant sites

- Proposed U.S. disposal site Yucca Proposed U.S. disposal site Yucca Mountain, Nevada dropped 2/09Mountain, Nevada dropped 2/09

- Other countries reprocess fuel to Other countries reprocess fuel to remove Pu-238 to use as fuel remove Pu-238 to use as fuel (closed fuel cycle); more (closed fuel cycle); more efficient, creates less waste, but efficient, creates less waste, but increases nuclear proliferation increases nuclear proliferation risksrisks

U.S. U.S. Nuclear Nuclear PowerPower

• U.S. world’s largest supplier of nuclear powerU.S. world’s largest supplier of nuclear power• Nuclear power accounts for 20% of the Nuclear power accounts for 20% of the

electrical power generated in the U.S. electrical power generated in the U.S. • Currently, there are 66 power plants consisting Currently, there are 66 power plants consisting

of 104 operating nuclear reactorsof 104 operating nuclear reactors- 787 Billion KWhs electricity produced in 2006787 Billion KWhs electricity produced in 2006- No new licenses since TMI accident (1979) No new licenses since TMI accident (1979) - NRC has accepted applications for 11 new units and NRC has accepted applications for 11 new units and

are expecting applications for up to 33 new units by are expecting applications for up to 33 new units by 20102010

• Current plants avoids 700 million metric tons of Current plants avoids 700 million metric tons of carbon emissions annually vs. fossil fuel plantscarbon emissions annually vs. fossil fuel plants

ENW Columbia Generating Station

1250 MW

Hanford, WA

It’s Expensive - The Real It’s Expensive - The Real CostsCosts

• Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides Energy Policy Act of 2005 provides significant cost benefits to nuclear industrysignificant cost benefits to nuclear industry- Tax credits up to $125 million for 8 yearsTax credits up to $125 million for 8 years- Loan guarantees up to 80% of plant costs – Loan guarantees up to 80% of plant costs –

initially limited to $2 billion fund but industry initially limited to $2 billion fund but industry lobbying to expand to $50+ billionlobbying to expand to $50+ billion

- Federal insurance against regulatory delays Federal insurance against regulatory delays - Other subsidies include local tax incentives and Other subsidies include local tax incentives and

limits on liability for accidents limits on liability for accidents • Costs of decommissioning contaminated Costs of decommissioning contaminated

plants and waste disposal are not reflected plants and waste disposal are not reflected in cost projections for new plantsin cost projections for new plants

• Long history of significant cost increases Long history of significant cost increases and overruns in nuclear power plant and overruns in nuclear power plant constructionconstruction

Zero Carbon Zero Carbon Construction Construction

Costs* Costs*

Nuclear Plant Nuclear Plant 1,000+ MWe 1,000+ MWe

$5B to 9B$5B to 9BBig Horn 200 MW Big Horn 200 MW

11,000 Acres, ~$130M 11,000 Acres, ~$130M Klicitat County, WAKlicitat County, WA

5X5X

Waldpolenz Germany Waldpolenz Germany 250 acres, 40MW, $185M 250 acres, 40MW, $185M

25X25X

Kramer Junction CA Kramer Junction CA Solar Trough, 150 MW, Solar Trough, 150 MW,

1000 acres, ~$750M1000 acres, ~$750M

McNeil Biomass Plant McNeil Biomass Plant Burlington, VT 50 Burlington, VT 50

MW, $67MMW, $67M

20X 20X

*Does not include *Does not include waste disposal & waste disposal & decommissioningdecommissioning

6.7X6.7X

100X100X

South Korean Uldolmok South Korean Uldolmok Tidal Plant 1MW, ~$9.9MTidal Plant 1MW, ~$9.9M 1,000X

1,000X

$9.9B$9.9B

$5B$5B

$2.8B$2.8B

$1.4B$1.4B

$4.6B$4.6B

$1B$1B

BEST BUYBEST BUY

PS-10 Solar Tower Spain PS-10 Solar Tower Spain 10 MW, 150 acres, $28M10 MW, 150 acres, $28M

* New 1000 MW Coal Plant ~ $4B* New 1000 MW Coal Plant ~ $4B

• #1 - Increase efficiency and reduce use - we can’t continue increasing demand without

consequences (the cheapest plant is the one we don’t build!)• Government needs to favor the most promising

options to reduce carbon emissions- Revisit our current subsidy strategies- Increasing investment and deployment of renewable

power plants will increase cost competitiveness- Europe is making major investments to transition to 20%

renewable power by 2020• Many current nuclear plants are operating beyond

their original design life - How long can they operate and how will we replace the

20% of our power they produce? Build more?• Wealthy nations must help developing nations

build low (or zero) emissions power production

How do we meet growing energy demands and reduce CO2 emissions?

Where do we go Where do we go from here?from here?

How do we keep How do we keep our planet our planet habitable?habitable?

What do you think?What do you think?

Design the power Design the power infrastructure for your infrastructure for your

own city – make the own city – make the decisions and compare decisions and compare

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