Fuelling Innovation
Countries look to the next generation of nuclear power
In addition, several teams consisting of individual experts are performing case studies, which cover those technologies not addressed by the National Case Studies, in order to obtain a validation of the Methodology as complete as possible.
Final results of these studies and several case studies will be reported to the 7th meeting of the INPRO Steering Committee in late 2004. Innovative nuclear reactor and fuel cycle concepts will then be assessed against the requirements and criteria selected. Drawing on the results from the first phase, Phase 2 will look at available technologies and the feasibility of starting an international project.
INPRO has hitherto depended on the political, financial and technical support accorded by IAEA Member States (in particular Russia, which provided the major financial support for project), but from 2004 funding is partly included in the IAEA regular budget. (See table for INPRO members.)
The key feature of INPRO's methodology is the information it provides about the potential of nuclear energy and the consequences of its use. It takes into account the development options for society and its energy requirements as well as the associated expenditure in terms of effort, resources and time. This will provide INPRO members with a tool to help in identifying and assessing the components needed for a future nuclear energy system, such as reactors, waste processing facilities, fuel fabrication and recycling facilities. It will also assist States to identify the research, development and demonstration (RD & D) required to improve existing components for future application and to develop new components as required.
In the area of economics, INPRO considers four market scenarios covering possible future developments. These are characterised by various levels of globalisation and regionalisation and differing views of economic growth versus environmental constraints. Provided innovative nuclear energy systems (INS) are economically competitive, INPRO believes they can play a major role in meeting future energy needs. But to keep the total unit energy cost competitive, all component costs (capital costs, operation and maintenance, fuel, etc) must be considered and managed. Limits on fuel costs imply limits on the capital and operating cost of fuel cycle facilities, including mines, fuel processing and enrichment, fuel reprocessing and the decommissioning and long-term management of the wastes from these facilities.
Regarding sustainability, INPRO has set two basic principles, one related to the acceptability of environmental effects caused by nuclear energy and the second to the capability of INS to deliver energy in a sustainable manner in the 21st century. Protection of the environment is seen as fundamental, and to be sustainable the system must not run out of important resources (such as fissile/fertile material or water) part way through its intended lifetime. The system should also use them at least as efficiently as acceptable alternatives, both nuclear and non-nuclear.
Regarding safety, INPRO Principles and Requirements are based on extrapolation of current trends and seek to encompass the potential interests of developing countries and countries in transition. For nuclear reactors, the fundamental safety functions are to control reactivity, remove heat from the core, and confine radioactive materials and shield radiation. For fuel cycle installations, they are to control sub-criticality and chemistry, remove decay heat from radionuclides, and confine radioactivity and shield radiation. The development of INS should be based on a holistic life cycle analysis taking into account the risks and impacts of the integrated fuel cycle.
The safety of waste management involves different time scales and, in many cases different source terms and pathways, compared with nuclear installations. The existing nine principles already defined by the IAEA for the management of radioactive waste have been adopted by INPRO without modification.
As the demand for electricity is expected to grow mainly in developing countries, INPRO believes particular attention should be paid to these countries. For countries that need only a small number of nuclear power plants it would not be rational to develop a fully capable domestic supply structure. Internationally operated companies could provide most of the necessary infrastructure for the construction and operation of nuclear power systems and could supply a valuable service.
- CONTENTS
- Fuelling Innovation
- GIF Initiative
- International Project:INPRO
- Need for Global Co-operation
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