Sustainable Nuclear Energy in Europe and High Level Strategic EURATOM

Initiatives

Jozef Misak, Director for Strategy, NRI RezFISA 2009, 22 June 2009, Prague

Sustainability: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet

their own needs”Europe’s electricity system must prove sustainable

by ensuring a secure fuel and electricity supply (security), decreasing CO2 emissions (environment) and affordable

prices for consumers (economy)

Generation I

Generation II

1950 1970 1990 2010 2030 2050 2070 2090

Generation III

First reactors

Commercialpower reactors

EPR, AP 1000, AES 2006APWR 1700, APR 1400

LWR with enhanced safety and performance

Fast reactors with closed fuel cycle

Generation IV

•Shippingport•Dresden•Fermi I•Magnox

•LWR – PWR,BWR•CANDU•GCR•VVER 440, 1000•RBMK

Development of nuclear power

Atoms for Peace TMI-2 Chernobyl

Components of sustainability

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The European contextEC Green Paper (03/2006) -> Energy Policy for Europe (01/2007) -> Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan (11/2007):Europe’s electricity system must prove sustainable by ensuring a secure fuel and electricity supply, decreasing CO2 emissions and affordable prices for consumersFor the first time underlining the benefits of nuclear energy: low carbon emissions, competitiveness, and stable pricesObjectives 20, 20, 20 by 2020– 20% reduction in GHG (compared to 1990)– 20% renewable energies in energy mix,– 20% reduction in energy consumption

Nuclear fission together with other low carbon technologies one of the contributors to meet the 2020 challengesPreparations for the demonstration of a new generation (Gen-IV) of fission reactorsMaintaining the current 1/3 share of nuclear electricity in Europe in the long term

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High level EU initiatives to support the new strategy

High-Level Group on Nuclear Safety and Waste Management - to help the Commission develop European rules regarding the safety of nuclear installations and the safe management of spent fuel and radioactive wasteEuropean Nuclear Energy Forum – ENEF - nuclear discussion forum hosted by the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The work is organised in three Working Groups: "Opportunities", "Risks", and"TransparencySustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform -SNE TP - aims at coordinating Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment (RDD&D) in the field of nuclear fission energyEuropean Industrial Initiative – initiated to focus on priorities in nuclear fission on the development (demonstration) of Generation-IV technologies, using Public Private Partnership projectsEuropean Energy Research Alliance – created to coordinate activities of national research institutes for energy as well as research teams working in universities and specialised centres

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What is Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP)?

SNETP is a Europe-wide forum gathering stakeholders sharing the vision of sustainability of fission power: nuclear industry, research centres, technical safety organisations, universities, etc. SNETP overall goal is to enhance the sustainability of nuclear fission by supporting technological developmentThe Platform develops the Strategic Research Agenda and the Deployment Strategy and monitors their implementation

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A collective vision, endorsers and contributors – currently more than 70 organizations sharing the same vision

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European vision on sustainable nuclear powerThe Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform

(Launched 21 Sept. 2007, currently more than 70 organizations)

The SNETP fosters new research required to reach the objectives of sustainable nuclear energy through available funding tools (Framework Programmes, national and bilateral projects)

EURATOM research actions are important for synergy of all resources

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Vision of the SNETPActions for ensuring sustainability of nuclear power:1. Ensure long term safe operation of current

Generation II reactors2. Built and ensure safety and competitiveness of

evolutionary Gen III reactors3. Develop Gen IV fast breeders with closed fuel

cycle4. Enlarge the nuclear fission portfolio beyond

electricity production: H2, synthetic fuels, H2O desalination, paper, cement industry

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European vision of sustainable nuclear power–Progress to sustainability

Necessary steps towards sustainabilityLive time extension of current NPPsReplacement of current reactors by Gen III by 2020 and Gen IV fast reactors by 2035-2040A transition is necessary between current reactors and GEN IV systems

Gen. IIIGeneration III

GenerationIVExisting reactors40-year plant life

Plant life extension beyond 40 years

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

70000

197519801985199019952000200520102015202020252030203520402045205020552060

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Importance of Continued Operation of Generation II Reactors

There are 145 nuclear reactors in operation in 15 out of 27 EU countries, with installed power ~ 131,5 GWeNuclear contribution to EU electricity production is ~ 31 %– Reduction in import of natural gas by ~190 Mton, i.e.

equivalent ~ 80 % of the total import of the gas to EU-27– Reduction in CO2 emissions by ~900 Mton, i.e.

equivalent to emissions from whole transport sector in EUExcellent performance and safety recordNuclear power necessary as part of energy mix for reaching reduced emissions target(maintaining 30 % nuclear share)

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Predictions of global nuclear capacity (Nuclear Energy Outlook 2008)

……1400 1400 reactors in reactors in

20502050

600 to600 to……436 reactors 436 reactors iin June 2009n June 2009

New Plants to be equipped by Gen III reactors with significantly enhanced safety and performance

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Generation III PWRs considered in CR

Budova reaktoru

Bezpečnostní systémy 1divize

Dieselgenerátorová stanice3 + 4

Bezpečnostní systémy 2+3

Strojovna

Budova elektro

Vstup

Administrativní budova

Dieselgenerátorová stanice 1 + 2

Bezpečnostní systémy 4divize

Odpadové hospodářství

Pomocné aktivní provoz y

Skladování paliva

AP-1000

VVER-92 (or AES 2006)Mitsubishi-APWR

EPR

Fast and Cost-effective Construction of Generation III Reactors

23.6.2009 13SNETP Road Map for Gen IV Fast Reactors

Development of Generation IV Reactors with Closed Fuel Cycle

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Generation IV ReactorsHighly economical, Proliferation resistant, Enhanced

safety, Minimize waste

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

Coal Oil Gas Uranium/LWR Uranium/FR

Stan Gordelier, Nuclear Energy Agency, 1st meeting of WG on Opportunities of ENEF, 5 March 2008, Brussels

Known global uranium resources can cover a hundred years under current conditions and they are distributed in stable countries. These resources would last for thousands of years when considering future fast neutron reactors.

Lifetime of fuel resources (years)

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Nuclear energy has other promising applications than electricity, such as low-cost mass hydrogen

production

300 C

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ConclusionsEurope has recognized the role of nuclear energy for a sustainable energy mix as a key low-carbon, safe and competitive technology and relevant actions are takenOn the longer term vision for low carbon society by 2050, the ECtechnology breakthroughs are needed and these are identified in the Strategic Energy Technology PlanFour components for ensuring sustainability of fission nuclear power include: lifetime extension of current reactors, fast and effective construction of Gen III reactors, development of Gen IV reactors with the closed fuel cycle, future use of nuclear power also for non-electric applicationsThe Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform fosters new research towards sustainable nuclear energy through available funding tools (FP, national and bilateral projects)EURATOM research actions are important for synergy of all available resources, complementing national research and fostering the interaction among all stakeholders: research, regulators, industry and universities)