Catlow reported from the UK in 2013 that while nuclear power does not seem to have the support of public opinion in many parts of the world, China is forging ahead with its ambitious nuclear program. Some might argue that this is to support their weapons program, but that clearly is not the case and is undoubtedly to provide a stable source of energy for the generation of electricity, but also for alternative peaceful uses.
The author covers the history of nuclear power in China over more than thirty years and addresses what impact, if any, their policy of continued expansion of nuclear power will have on the rest of the world. The different reactor types installed in China were reviewed, the infrastructure and the overall strategy was surveyed.
He covered the following subjects:
Energy Usage (at 2013)
- Per Capita Domestic Energy Consumption
- Carbon Emissions, Climate Change & Energy
- Carbon Emissions, Climate Change & Energy
Electricity from Nuclear Energy
- Historical – Qinshan & Daya Bay
- Current Status in 2013
- Short Term Future
- Long Term Future
Safety
Performance
Self Sufficiency
Health of Humans
Climate Change
Environmental Impact
Nuclear Waste
A well-written description:
"Nuclear Power Plants do produce nuclear waste; however, one should consider the following:
97% of spent fuel need not be regarded as waste and can be recycled (like glass, paper, plastics etc) to be used again since it still contains 95-96% reusable U and about 1-2% Pu both of which are valuable fuels and can be converted into MOX14 fuel. Fission products also contain
valuable elements such as platinum group metals.
Much of the problem of managing nuclear waste is a political one and it seems if the ‘will’ exists the ‘way’ can be found. The problem is principally one of cost and persuading local communities of the benefits. It’s a question of economic priorities. The UK has a low level repository at Drigg in Cumbria but all other wastes which aren’t reprocessed are stored at the various licensed sites. This situation has existed for more than 50 years
and it must be assumed that the government does not consider a central repository a high enough priority. In the USA, the Yucca Mountain project debate has been ongoing for 23 years, in the meantime a number of plants have been satisfactorily decommissioned and the wastes removed.[xiv]
All existing NPPs have funds set aside for decontamination & decommissioning and it is costed into all new NPPs.
NPPs are monitored and subjected to periodic inspection by their appropriate regulator and environmental protection agency to ensure that groundwater and other criteria comply with the stringent conditions of their operating license.
Interestingly, CFPs emit more radioactive material (U & Th) into the environment than NPPs which is unregulated and a possible source for proliferation. The waste dumps from gold mines in South Africa have been bought by commercial enterprises to extract the
valuable U contained therein. Perhaps in the future waste dumps at CFPs will be sought for the minerals they contain."
Social Factors
Economics
Sustainability
CONCLUSION
Catlow concludes that China is paving the way for a renaissance of nuclear energy throughout the world. It is not only cleaning up its environment, although this will take at least a hundred years but creating a new nuclear industry and a world revival of nuclear engineering, research and manufacturing which will have repercussions in many countries throughout the world.
Scientific Implications
There are many potential scientific advances which are possible in the future in electricity generation techniques such as more efficient wind turbines, improved solar cells, wind and wave technology, carbon capture techniques and new reactor designs which can contribute greatly to electricity supplies of the future. These must, however, be practical proven technologies before large sums of money are spent responding to fanciful ideas and ‘knee jerk’ reactions.
One hopes that the free market culture of the USA will prevail in highlighting the way forward but leadership at the present time seems to belong to China
which doesn’t seem to care what policy is adopted as long as it produces the desired results. Whether the choice is fossil fuel, renewables or nuclear China seems to be in a ‘learning phase’ eager to embrace the latest global technology from whatever source.
Social Implications
Hopefully everyone living on Earth should have the benefits that electricity brings as well as clean air, clean water and a healthy environment. The fact that we used to live with smog, dirty rivers from chemical and agricultural pollution, contamination of land and other undesirable practices need not persist in the future. There are choices to be made - is electricity the first priority or a healthy living? A healthy society also needs the ability to enjoy and find inspiration and freedom in the unspoilt open countryside and sea.
Wildlife and the Environment
There are many examples of ‘environmentally friendly’ NPPs. These include Sizewell B, UK, which is adjacent to the Minesmere Bird Sanctuary; Koeberg near Cape Town in South Africa which boasts its own game reserve; San Onofre in California which is adjacent to a beach used by surfers and is a popular recreational area; Susquehanna which has a Riverlands nature reserve; Calvert Cliffs which has a policy of land, forest management and wildlife protection; North Anna which is on an artificial lake built to provide the station’s cooling and which has spawned a popular week end resort for
water sports.
There are many others such as Hinkley Point, UK which supports natural habitats on the river Severn. At Chernobyl wildlife (animals and plants) flourished once the people had left. Wind turbines kill birds and seals. No attempt is made to screen the ‘propeller’ blades as would be required by
health and safety law for any other industrial installation.
Acceptance by Local and Wider Community
There is often a divergence of opinion between the local and wider community. For instance locals hate wind farms, ‘out of towners’ love them; locals love nukes, ‘out of towners’ hate them. Opinions are often formed from the media, ‘big money’ companies, manufacturers and ‘armchair environmentalists’. The silent majority seem to be subjected to ‘brainwashing’ by a very vociferous and militant ‘green’ minority.
The Nuclear Option
The decade in which President Eisenhower announced his “Atoms for Peace” program has sometimes been described as the ‘The Atomic Golden Age’. It is likely that in future people will recognize the 1950s not as the pinnacle but as our first faltering steps that were only just the beginning. In the United States the power companies have managed, against restrictions and determined efforts by nuclear protesters who are not interested in the wellbeing
of the majority but only their own prejudicial and misguided ideas to hamper and block every move, to increase the output of NPPs without building any new plants. But these operating nuclear plants have an enviable record of reliable service which improves year by year and is constantly breaking new records for reliability and performance (and efficiency).
Undoubtedly some of this criticism has had a beneficial effect, especially after TMI, and instilled a safety culture and techniques that have served as an example to other industries. The continued adverse attitudes, however, are undeserved and often grossly exaggerated with
misinformation, fantasy and lies....[by anti-nuclear groups and the media pandering fear of radiation]
In Finland, after much deliberation and extensive research a group of industrialists impartially decided that the best and most economical form of power was nuclear. They accordingly placed a contract with Areva for the first evolutionary 1600MW EPR. It is not unusual for the first of any large to have ‘teething’ problems. The plant is more than 80% complete and is on schedule for completion at the end of 2014 or beginning 2015.
Way Ahead for the Future.
Worldwide, CFPs will continue to operate, and be built, for many years to come probably for at least the next decade and those plants will be operating until 2070 if not beyond. Efforts to curb GHG emissions are commendable and must continue but as has been the case in Germany may not always have the desired effect. Communities desperate for electricity to improve their lives and power their industries will not see GHG suppression as a priority but if they could be persuaded that technologies other than coal offer a realistic, affordable and economic alternative there is a possibility that they could adopt a different approach. They are also likely to heed the message if it is serious and credible- not one that is based on myths. “Catchphrases won’t curb energy problems - A good energy strategy doesn't fit in a slogan”.
Climate Change
There appear to be real doubts(in 2013) as to the likely effects of climate change. We have no proof that some of the scenarios of global warming will come to pass or that we must act now without delay to avoid a global disaster and in the meantime probably create an even greater economic disaster than the one we are trying to avoid. In fact, some of the claims have already been shown to be false and undermine the veracity of the entire case. It is those very attitudes that caused the Chernobyl disaster – operators ‘cutting corners’, failing to use common sense or think through the logical consequences of their actions and ending in a catastrophe equivalent to driving a vehicle without brakes.
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