 Benefits of Nuclear Energy  How Fission Works  Nuclear Power Plant Basics  Overview of Uranium Fuel Cycle  Energy Lifecycle of Nuclear Power  Generation IV Reactors  Technical Challenges  Conclusions

 Continuous, reliable supply of energy  Well-developed technology › 12,700 reactor-years of commercial experience › Accounts for ~16% of world electricity generation  Extensive fuel supply › Breeder reactors › Fissile materials other than Uranium

 Water or other moderator slows neutrons, thermalizing them  Thermal neutron collides with U- 235  Unstable nucleus splits in two  Energy and neutrons are released  Reaction repeats

A common type of Light Water Reactor (LWR)

Based on 3090 MW Forsmark plant operating for 40 years.

 Radioactive waste storage/disposal › Yucca Mountain › Reprocess spent fuel  Safety › Only fatalities from commercial nuclear power plant occurred at Chernobyl › Must overcome public fear

* high = 7-15 Mpa + = with some U-235 or Pu-239 ** 'battery' model with long cassette core life (15-20 yr) or replaceable reactor module

 U-238 captures a neutron and transmutes to Pu-239  Pu-239 is fissile like U-235  Increases efficiency of uranium use >50x  Could use up depleted uranium stockpiles & plutonium from dismantled weapons

 290 reactor-years of commercial experience  Monju (Japan) and Superphenix (France)  Not economically practical  More costly to construct  More difficult to operate  Proliferation dangers associated with plutonium

 Nuclear fission is a viable energy source  It cuts down on CO 2 emissions, improving air quality  New designs have made nuclear power safer and more economically feasible  Issue of radioactive waste will need to be addressed