On or Off? Outline Power Production Transition to Carbon-zero - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

NextGenSim 2020: On or Off?

Outline • Power Production • Transition to Carbon-zero Energy • Nuclear Power Risks

Power Production Like all energy sources, nuclear power has advantages and disadvantages.

Fossil Fuel Power 1. Boil water 2. Steam turns turbine 3. Turbine turns generator 4. Water is cooled and returned

Fossil Fuel Power 1. Boil water 2. Steam turns turbine 3. Turbine turns generator 4. Water is cooled and returned

Fossil Fuel Power 1. Boil water 2. Steam turns turbine 3. Turbine turns generator 4. Water is cooled and returned

Fossil Fuel Power 1. Boil water 2. Steam turns turbine 3. Turbine turns generator 4. Water is cooled and returned

Fossil Fuel Power 1. Boil water 2. Steam turns turbine 3. Turbine turns generator 4. Water is cooled and returned

Nuclear Power 1. Boil water 2. Steam turns turbine 3. Turbine turns generator 4. Water is cooled and returned

Fossil Fuel Pollution • Almost anything can be burned to produce power • Coal • Natural gas • Wood pellets • The chemical burning process produces carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to pollution and climate change. • Nuclear power produces no pollution from the nuclear burn. The only source of pollution or greenhouse gasses is fuel fabrication and operation.

Nuclear Fuel Cycle

Fuel Preparation • Natural uranium is mined • Natural uranium is 0.7% 235 U and 99.3% 238 U • Only the 235 U is useful in a nuclear reactor. • Natural uranium must be enriched to 5% 235 U • Centrifuges are used to enrich uranium. • 238 U is heavier than 235 U so if you spin them around very fast, the heavier 238 U will move to the outside. • Enriched uranium is made into fuel rods that are loaded into the reactor.

Reactor Operation • The fuel rods boil water, which creates steam. The steam turns a turbine, which generates electricity. • In the process the fuel rods become highly radioactive.

Waste Management • The radioactive spent fuel rods are replaced after ~4.5 years in the reactor. • The spent fuel is submerged in a spent fuel pool located next to the reactor. • Spent fuel stays in the spent fuel pool for 10+ years. • Eventually, spent fuel is moved to a permanent geological repository underground. • Spent fuel remains radioactive for 1000s of years.

Nuclear Power as a Transition to Carbon-zero Energy

The need for electricity • Much of South Yasric does not currently have access to electricity, especially rural districts. • Electricity is needed to attract foreign companies to build in South Yasric, as well as raise living standards. • South Yasric believes it is unrealistic for the country, currently dependent on coal for electricity, to transition to carbon-zero (renewable) energy within the next 2-3 decades.

Transitioning to Carbon-zero Energy • Carbon-zero energy (wind and solar) is expensive. • The cost of installing carbon-zero energy infrastructure could not be met without massive foreign loans that would take decades to pay off. • Without turning on Zelfia, the only other path to providing enough energy to South Yasric, that could be completed quickly, is the expansion of the Anaya Coal Plant.

Nuclear power plants produce a lot of energy • Anaya Coal Plant produces 200 Megawatts (which provides electricity to roughly 150,000 homes). • Russian Gas Pipeline provides 20 Megawatts (which provides electricity for 15,000 homes). • Zelfia Nuclear Plant could produce 4,000 Megawatts (which provides electricity to 3 million homes). • A new solar farm could produce 50 Megawatts (which could provide electricity for 38,000 homes and requires 500 acres).

Renewable Energy Fund • Development and energy experts believe that 1,000 Megawatts is enough to provide every household with electricity in South Yasric. • Zelfia Nuclear Plant is capable of producing 4,000 Megawatts, which means South Yasric could sell up to 3,000 Megawatts of electricity to neighbors. • With the profit earned from selling electricity to neighbors, South Yasric could begin a renewable energy fund, which would facilitate a transition to carbon- zero energy within a decade.

Nuclear Power Risks

Proliferation Concerns • North Yasric fears that South Yasric may one day use its nuclear power program to develop a nuclear weapon. • It will be challenging to convince North Yasric that Zelfia will not be used to develop a nuclear weapon.

Proliferation Concerns • There is a concern that spent fuel could be stolen and used for illicit purposes. • Even if the stolen spent fuel were not used for illicit purposes, the theft would be a major blow to the credibility of South Yasric.

Nuclear Accidents • During normal operation, a nuclear reactor is very safe. • In the event of a disaster (natural or otherwise), there is a risk that radioactive contamination could leak from the reactor. • The worst scenario is that an accident leads to a meltdown.

Nuclear Accidents • Radioactive particles are trapped in the fuel rods. • During a meltdown, the fuel rods get too hot and melt, releasing the radioactive particles. • The particles get into the air and are carried by the wind. • People breathe in these particles and can become sick from radiation poisoning. Radiation poisoning can lead to death or long-term illness such as cancer.

Long-term Environmental Concerns • Radioactive waste has to be stored permanently. • Over time there is a risk that radioactive contamination could leak from the spent fuel containers in permanent storage. • That radiation would seep into groundwater and contaminate people that drink it.

Summary • Like all energy sources, nuclear power has advantages and disadvantages.

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