Objectives of the $3.5 billion proposed program are to reduce carbon emissions and bolster energy security
A new report co-authored by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) details how nuclear energy research, development, demonstration and deployment can help reduce U.S. carbon emissions and bolster energy security.
The report, A Strategy for Nuclear Energy Research and Development, outlines the research necessary to create options for the deployment of nuclear energy in the decades ahead. The report also examines nuclear energy’s relevance to nonproliferation and the need for the United States to maintain international leadership in developing nuclear energy
The report says these are issues that must be addressed for nuclear energy to have a prominent role in meeting the nation’s future energy needs. Because of the scale, cost, and time horizons involved, sustaining and increasing nuclear energy’s share will require a coordinated research effort — combining the efforts of industry and government, supported by innovation from the research community.
The study was issued as the United States faces unprecedented challenges in climate change and energy security. President Obama has called for a reduction of CO2 emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, with a further 80 percent reduction by 2050. Meeting those aggressive goals while increasing overall energy supply will require contributions from all non- and low- emitting generating technologies.
The strategic plan defines six goals to expand the safe and economical use of nuclear energy:
1. Maintain today’s nuclear fleet of light water reactors
2. Significantly expand the fleet with advanced light water reactors
3. Develop non-electric applications for high-temperature reactors
4. Assure safe, long-term used fuel management
5. Assure long-term nuclear sustainability
6. Strengthen United States leadership internationally.
“The report recommends that R&D to support these goals be focused in three technical areas: light water reactors and advanced light water reactors, high-temperature reactors, and fast reactors and advanced fuel cycles,” said EPRI’s Chris Larsen, vice president of the nuclear sector.
“This research blend will enable the country to capitalize on numerous safety and technology advances for existing light water reactors, while developing the next generation of reactors so nuclear can service a variety of process heat applications and support nuclear fuel recycling. In essence, it establishes a set of options for deployment of non-emitting nuclear energy through this century.”
Total funding needs from government and industry for the proposed research agenda covering the initial 2010-2015 period are estimated at $3.5 billion.
This is the second time EPRI and INL have collaborated on nuclear energy R&D strategies. In February 2008 they issued a report on light water reactor R&D which resulted in the light water reactor sustainability program at the INL.
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2 comments:
If I ever needed confirmation that thinking about the future of energy in general and nuclear energy in particular at INL leaves much to be desired, the EPRI/INL report provides ample evidence. All of the energy options considered by "A Strategy for Nuclear Energy Research and Development" are very expensive, and one Carbon Capture and Sequestration is impractical because of the energy input it requires. Were there no lower cost options, this might be acceptable, but the report does not consider the possibility of developing Molten Salt Reactor technology, despite its potential to be a lower cost alternative to all of the technologies mentioned in the report. Isn't the problem here that Molten Salt Reactor technology was not invented at INL, and therefore it gets no attention from INL researchers.
Hello,
My name is Teri Ehresman and I am responsible for Nuclear Science and Technology communication at the Idaho National Laboratory. I'm writing to respond to a couple of points in a previous comment.
The Generation IV International Forum is an international organization working toward the development of the next generation of nuclear energy systems. The Gen IV organization identified six technology concepts for further study, including molten salt technology. A broad consensus agrees that all six technologies are good candidates for additional research. Various member countries are pursuing research on all six of the identified systems, which will take a decade or more to develop.
The EPRI-INL report focused on U.S. research needed in the next five years. In that very limited time frame, our research and development efforts are focused on light water reactors because they are and will be an important near-term source of energy, the Very High Temperature Reactor because of its potential for providing both electricity and process heat, and well-known sodium reactors because they may offer the benefits of actinide management and fuel utilization in the long term.
Thank you for the opportunity to clarify these points.
Teri Ehresman, Idaho National Laboratory
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