Status of International Advanced Reactor Technology Development
Dr. Alexander
Stanculescu
Nuclear Science and Engineering Division
Idaho National
Laboratory
Arguably, the
world faces challenges with regard to meeting its energy needs in a sustainable
manner. The
total demand for energy in the world is currently increasing at a rate of about
30% every decade, driven mainly by the demographic and economic growth of some
developing countries. However, most of this increased demand is being met by
fossil fuel power plants. As a result, the contribution from nuclear power to
electricity generation at present has steadily dropped from more than 17% at
the turn of the century to slightly less than 14%1,
and will continue to decrease. The rapid increase in demand for energy causes a
strain on the world’s energy resources that is likely to inhibit further growth
of the economies of developing countries and undermine the sustainability of
global prosperity and stability. The
increased use of fossil fuel, on the other hand, will further damage the
environment.
Nowadays, nuclear
energy is one of the most effective options among energy mix to meet these
challenges, especially with respect to electricity production. Further
installation of new nuclear energy systems and their non electric applications
like process heat and hydrogen production, offers
considerable advantages in terms of reduction of CO2 emissions and
security of supply. Therefore, the deployment
of nuclear energy systems in the upcoming decades on a scale that will allow
the potential benefits of nuclear energy to fully emerge, demands innovative
designs adapted to various needs and applications.
The talk will present the drivers for, and current status
of worldwide nuclear energy development efforts, as well as review some
advanced reactor concepts and applications of nuclear energy.