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Conference Article: French perspective on selected non-electric applications

Abstract

Lacking natural fossil energy resources, France launched a massive nuclear program in 1974 in order to achieve a 50% energy independence. Meanwhile electricity usage was encouraged wherever possible. Non electric heat markets were examined and led to focus on two market types, i.e.: Industrial and district heat. Industry in France evolves toward a lower energy usage. As a consequence, when the relatively low energy usage concentration with respect to nuclear unit size is combined with the capital intensive cost of nuclear units and the redundancy of nuclear units to ensure very high availability of industrial heat, nuclear heat in industry is nowhere competitive in France. Nuclear District heating is strongly handicapped due to high heat transportation cost and amortization on part time use only. Dedicated nuclear plants for heat production are not competitive in France. Only dual electricity/heat plant may improve the economic picture but it was not studied.

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Reference:

Advisory group meeting on non-electric applications of nuclear energy. Jakarta (Indonesia). 21-23 Nov 1995

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

IAEA-TECDOC--923, pp:249-252