Nuclear Report Ed 1 2007

Abstract

Introduction

• Nuclear power is back on the menu for 20 countries as a potential base load generator
• In 2007 there are 442 nuclear power reactors in operation in 38 countries, with total generating capacity of 370,721 MW
• The first commercial nuclear power plant was commissioned in the UK in 1956 and by 2005 nuclear power provided 6.5% of the world' s primary energy consumption and 9% of electricity generation
• Nuclear power has not fulfilled early expectations and there was a brown out of nuclear power in the 1970s and 1980s, stations were shut down and several countries declared moratoria on it, for various reasons, not least being public safety fears
• Nuclear power has been bedevilled by political perceptions, but other sources of power are now being subjected to similar scrutiny
• The environmental fight against fossil fuels is heating up, and informed people are starting to ask questions about what renewables will be able to achieve
• Nuclear power stations are highly efficient, being operated at higher load factors than thermal or hydro stations
• Nuclear power generates almost zero GHG emissions
• The public has always been more afraid of nuclear power than the industry, and is largely unaware of the difference between the so-called "nuclear legacy" from the 1960s and 1970s, and the sophisticated “back-end” measures being engineered into modern nuclear plants

Report Scope

• The report looks at the global nuclear energy market, past, present and future
• It looks at the countries considering Nuclear Power
• It provides country profiles
• The statistics of nuclear energy and power
• The nuclear fuel cycle and supply
• The safety and environmental issues
• The history and economics
• The nuclear power utilities and nuclear power manufacturing companies are as listed
• As are the international associations and organisations
• The report provides a global overview and comprehensive data

Key Research Findings

• Many industrialised countries are facing a shortfall in base load power as existing fossil fuel and nuclear fleets reach the end of their lives
• Environmental awareness is giving nuclear a new impetus
• There are many uncertainties about the economics and future of nuclear energy
• Nuclear power plants are expensive to build but standard designs are reducing costs
• Nuclear power plants have long lead times from concept to grid, decisions are urgent now
• The public perception of nuclear power is not a positive one but in some “anti” countries the public has turned around, e.g. Finland
• No less than 20 countries are rethinking their positions on nuclear power
• Coal has already rebounded and nuclear may well do the same