technology

By Joachim Grawe

In partnership with Energie-Fakten

By W J Nuttall

'Nuclear Renaissance' is not a plea for or against a nuclear revival, but explores technological evolutions that would facilitate a nuclear revival. With its focus on future technology, the book complements 'Megawatts and Megatons', since it continues in a way where the other ends (though there is no link between the 2 books).

'Nuclear Renaissance' covers the waste issue based on the UK, US and Finnish experience. It does not offer a complete and satisfactory solution, but the Finnish approach, based on participation and trust seems to provide a model for the future, as opposed to the approach of a 'nuclear priesthood' from the past.

Technological developments such as high temperature gas-cooled reactors, waste burners, Generation IV reactors and nuclear fusion are covered in depth. But possibly the main merit of the book lies in its careful consideration whether a nuclear renaissance will, needs to or should happen.

In an afterwords, the author offers a thought experiment of a world where nuclear fission as a physical phenomenon would not exist, speculation how such a world would have evolved over the past 70 years. Such a world would have seen quite a different end game to the 2nd World War. The Cold War would surely have occurred, we would not see magnetic confinement fusion and threats to climate would be even worse than we actually face today.

On balance, the author concludes that 'it would seem prudent for the developed world to maintain a civil nuclear power industry on at least its current scale.'

To publisher site

At the beginning of the new year, SEAL is pleased to introduce its new campaign 'Can Nuclear Power Deliver?'. Based on literature review and expert interviews, SEAL's 13th briefing paper provides an overview of arguments in the nuclear debate.

Since the first oil shock 31 years ago, has the world moved towards a more sustainable energy system? Or has a proliferation of energy policies, regulations, enthusiasms and philosophies resulted in a hive of activity, with little progress? Does Europe lack an energy strategy?

This paper defines 11 dimensions for a national or regional energy policy, and 13 technologies to realise these objectives. It further explores the link between energy technologies and policy objectives, according to a matrix.

The table demonstrates that there is no such thing like a perfect energy source, though energy efficiency and non-intermittent renewables come pretty close to this ideal.