Nuclear Energy Meng Runmei u96136 Yu Bing u96177

Content Background of nuclear crisis Pros and cons of nuclear energy Conclusion Nuclear power policies Economic effect

Japanese earthquake & nuclear crisis

Chernobyl disaster  a nuclear accident that occurred on 26 April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in the Ukrainian SSR (now Ukraine)  Explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive contamination into the atmosphere  approximately 270,000 cancers and death toll over 150,000  The battle to contain the contamination involved over 500,000 workers and cost estimated 18 billion rubles  A sudden power output surge led to a reactor vessel rupture and a series of explosions  From 1986 to 2000, 350,400 people were evacuated and resettled  237 people suffered from acute radiation sickness, of which 31 died within the first three months

Nuclear policies in the U.S.  Atomic Energy Commission nuclear weapons safety regulation of the civilian use of nuclear materials. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Department of Energy.  Atomic Energy Acts of 1946 and 1954 private sectors sharing the "first mover" cost of certain new reactors which will represent safety-enhancing evolutionary reactor design promote private companies to upgrade and replace out of time techniques.  Nuclear non-proliferation act of 1978 Limit the spread of nuclear weapons Strengthen the international safeguards system Nuclear non-proliferation treaty(NPT): prevent the spread of nuclear weapons in return for U.S. Knowledge and materials in the form of nuclear reactors and fuel Identify domestic sources of alternative energy That is to control over all information, technology and materials relevant to nuclear activities.

 Messmer Plan Since 1973 : energy independence Without public or parliamentary debate a large scale of nuclear energy applications  Nuclear Policy Council in 2008 mid 2010: low-cost, low-carbon base-load power for the whole of Europ largest electricity exporter EUR 3 billion/ year Electricity de France & Areva; state owned;technical and commercial agreements Agence France Nucleaire International (AFNI) deepen and regulate the nuclear related technology assistance with 40 countries. And function on a fee for service basis Nuclear policies in France

 1991 Waste Management Act (updated 2006) ANDRA deep geological disposal at Bure to 2025 reduction of the quantity and toxicity interim storage of radioactive substances and ultimate waste  MOX fuel stored as a plutonium resource for future fast neutron reactors  August 2010 €100 million for two waste projects The materials – mainly steel and concrete – would be used exclusively in the nuclear industry. To develop techniques to condition chemically-active intermediate-level radwastes for final disposal. Nuclear policies in France

 Atomic Energy Basic Law limit only to peaceful purpose &promoting international co-operation  national strategic priority -mid 1966 minimise dependence on current imports. 80% 50 main reactors provide some 30% of the country's electricity and expected to increase to at >= 40% by focus on LWRs steadily develop fast breeder reactors in order to improve uranium utilisation dramatically.  Regulatory Guide for Reviewing Seismic Design of Nuclear Power Reactor Facilities calling for reactor owners with NISA to undertake plant-specific reviews of seismic safety, to be completed in  after the Fukushima Daiichi plant accident Nuclear policies in Japan

 Nuclear exit law. after the 1998 federal elections phasing out of nuclear energy. Germany using 17 reactors offer 25% to March 2011shutdown Green Party and Social Democratic Party With a new government in 2009, the phase-out has been cancelled.  subsiding renewable industry The average feed-in tariff apart from solar PV is 8.5 c/kWh, or 16.4 cents including solar PV in 2006 (solar PV being up to 49 cents). feed-in tariffs wind plants are generally 8.2 c/kWh on land and 9.1 c offshore Germany in 2010 legislated for a tax of €145 per gram of uranium or plutonium fuel for six years, yielding €2.3 billion per year (about 1.6 c/kWh), a levy on nuclear generators of €300 million per year in 2011 and 2012, and €200 million , to subsidise renewables, and a tax of €0.9 c/kWh for the same purpose after  Subsiding coal industry EUR 2.5 billion per year to offer 55% of its electricity 12 more new coal plants in 2007 Nuclear policies in Germany

Pros of nuclear energy  Little pollution compared to Coal, gas and oil burning power plants  Reliability unaffected by strikes and shortages around the world, very little is required at a time well distributed around the world.  Safety 10,000 to 50,000 Americans die from respiratory diseases 300 are killed in mining and transportation accidents.  Phenomenal Energy Output energy produced by fissionable materials is 10 million times energy obtained by burning same mass of coal.

Cons of nuclear energy  High risk technically impossible to build a plant with 100% security preferred targets for terrorist attacks produce weapons of mass destruction like atomic bombs  Meltdowns with the lack of a cooling source  Radiation cancer, radiation sickness and genetic mutation  Waste Disposal radioactive and highly harmful to the environment Radioactivity cannot be turned off there is no way but to bury radioactive waste

Economic influences  offer14% of the world's electricity Japan 50 reactors 30% USA % Germany 17 25% France 58 75%  cost competitive with other forms of electricity generation, except where there is direct access to low-cost fossil fuels.  energy dependent. Fuel costs for nuclear plants are a minor proportion of total generating costs, though capital costs are greater than those for coal-fired plants and much greater than those for gas-fired plants.  lower external cost nuclear0.4 coal4.0( ) gas wind cents/kWh

Conclusion  Waste disposal,operational Safety, proliferation and radiation remain to be problems  World policies continue to leaning towards nuclear power.  Humankind cannot conceivably achieve a global clean-energy revolution without a huge expansion of nuclear power  If we are to strive for a sustainable living the answer will most probably be nuclear power.