Double or quits? : the future of civil nuclear energy / Malcolm C. Grimston and Peter Beck.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Grimston, Malcolm C.

Contributor:

Beck, Peter, Dr. iur.

Sustainable Development Programme (Royal Institute of International Affairs)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nuclear energy.

Physical Description:

xii, 237 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm

Place of Publication:

London : : Royal Institute of International Affairs : Earthscan ; Washington, D.C. : Distributed in North America by the Brookings Institution, 2002.

Summary:

During the last decade, nuclear power has in many countries been 'the energy source that dares not speak its name'. It is now back on the agenda, but the debate remains highly emotive, and dispassionate information is difficult to find. This book, the culmination of a two-year study, provides an assessment of the major disputes surrounding the future role of this fuel. The issues covered include economics, nuclear safety, public perceptions and the process of decision-making, nuclear research and development, the sustainability of nuclear power in the context of the Kyoto Protocol, waste management, reprocessing and proliferation.

Contents:

The energy challenge 1

Timescales 4

Different futures 6

Incentives and barriers to nuclear development 8

2 Public perceptions and decision-making in civil nuclear energy 14

Public opinion 16

A brief history of early nuclear perceptions 22

Attitudes and feelings 25

Factors affecting our perceptions of risk 28

New approaches to decision-making 37

Appendix 2.1 Innovative techniques to increase participation in decision-making 51

Appendix 2.2 Using participative techniques in policy formulation 57

3 The relative economics of nuclear power 61

The costs of generating electricity 63

The effects of market liberalization 74

The role of government in a liberalized market 84

Nuclear power in developing countries 86

Future nuclear options 89

The effects of market instruments on combating climate change 94

Security and diversity of energy supplies 97

4 Radioactive waste management, reprocessing and proliferation 102

Sources and types of radioactive waste 104

Reprocessing 110

Major spent fuel management options 117

Partition and transmutation 132

Nuclear weapons proliferation 135

Sidestepping the problem? The thorium cycle 141

5 Nuclear safety 147

Particular issues in nuclear safety 151

Principles of reactor safety 154

Major reactor accidents 157

Measures taken since Chernobyl 162

The current situation 164

The future safety of nuclear plants 169

6 Nuclear energy research, development and commercialization 176

The context of research expenditure 176

Energy research, development and commercialization 180

Nuclear R&D in the context of total energy R&D 185

Main areas of nuclear R, D & C 188

International cooperation 197

7 Nuclear power and the Kyoto Protocol 202

Alternative approaches 203

Flexibility mechanisms 205

Principles underpinning the CDM 208

The role of nuclear power in the CDM 213

Nuclear power and the CDM: generic and non-nuclear issues 217

Specific difficulties with the CDM 219

Nuclear power and sustainable development 220

Recommended actions 226.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

1853839132

1853839086

OCLC:

49784602