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Nuclear power for sustainable development: Current status and future prospects

A. Adamantiades and Ioannis Kessides

Energy Policy, 2009, vol. 37, issue 12, 5149-5166

Abstract: Interest in nuclear power has been revived as a result of volatile fossil fuel prices, concerns about the security of energy supplies, and global climate change. This paper describes the current status and future plans for expansion of nuclear power, the advances in nuclear reactor technology, and their impacts on the associated risks and performance of nuclear power. Advanced nuclear reactors have been designed to be simpler and safer, and to have lower costs than currently operating reactors. By addressing many of the public health and safety risks that plagued the industry since the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, these reactors may help break the current deadlock over nuclear power. In that case, nuclear power could make a significant contribution towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, significant issues persist, fueling reservations among the public and many decision makers. Nuclear safety, disposal of radioactive wastes, and proliferation of nuclear explosives need to be addressed in an effective and credible way if the necessary public support is to be obtained.

Keywords: Nuclear; power; New; reactor; technologies; Nuclear; accidents (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2009
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (61)

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