The Future of the Nuclear Industry Reconsidered : Risks, Uncertainties, and Continued Potential

Skeptics point out, with some justification, that the nuclear industry's prospects were dimmed by escalating costs long before Fukushima. If history is any guide, one direct consequence of the calamity in Japan will be more stringent safety re...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kessides, Ioannis N.
Format: Policy Research Working Paper
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
AIR
CO
CO2
COD
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/06/16448399/future-nuclear-industry-reconsidered-risks-uncertainties-continued-potential
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19935
id okr-10986-19935
recordtype oai_dc
repository_type Digital Repository
institution_category Foreign Institution
institution Digital Repositories
building World Bank Open Knowledge Repository
collection World Bank
language English
en_US
topic ABSORPTION
ACCIDENTS
AIR
AIR FLOW
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
APPROACH
ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
AVAILABILITY
BORON
CADMIUM
CAPACITY FACTORS
CARBON CAPTURE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ECONOMY
CARBON ENERGY
CARBON ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
CARBON TECHNOLOGIES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL
CATASTROPHIC EVENTS
CHEMICAL PROCESSES
CLIMATE
CLIMATE CHANGE
CO
CO2
COAL
COAL PLANT
COD
COLD WATER
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
CONSTRUCTION COST
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
CONVECTION
COOLING
COOLING TOWERS
COOLING WATER
CORROSION
COST PER KILOWATT
DESALINATION
DISASTERS
DISTRICT HEATING
DIVERGENCE
ELECTRIC GRIDS
ELECTRIC OUTPUT
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRICAL ENERGY
ELECTRICAL POWER
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY DEMAND
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
ELECTRICITY SYSTEM
ENERGY MIX
ENERGY NEEDS
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SECURITY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY USE
ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING DESIGN
ENGINEERS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
EXPLOSIVE
FEEDWATER
FLEXIBILITY
FLUIDS
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOSSIL
FOSSIL FUEL
FOSSIL FUEL PRICES
FUEL COSTS
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL INVENTORY
FUELS
GAS TURBINE
GASES
GENERATION
GENERATION CAPACITY
GLOBAL ELECTRICITY GENERATION
GLOBAL ENERGY MIX
GRAPHITE
GREEN ENERGY
GREENHOUSE
GREENHOUSE GAS
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH RISKS
HEAT CAPACITY
HEAT EXCHANGER
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HELIUM
HIGH LEVELS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROPOWER
INCOME
INSURANCE
IRRADIATION
KINETIC ENERGY
LEAKAGE
LITHIUM
LOW-CARBON
MASS
NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS
NATURAL GAS
NEW PLANT
NUCLEAR CAPACITY
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR FISSION
NUCLEAR FUEL
NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR MATERIAL
NUCLEAR PLANT
NUCLEAR PLANT CONSTRUCTION
NUCLEAR PLANTS
NUCLEAR POWER
NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUCLEAR POWER STATION
NUCLEAR REACTOR
NUCLEAR REACTORS
NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
NUCLEAR WASTE
NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL
OUTLET TEMPERATURES
PARTICLES
PELLETS
PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM REFINING
PHOTOVOLTAICS
PIPES
PLANT DESIGN
PLANT DESIGNS
POROSITY
POWER COMPANY
POWER DEMAND
POWER GRID
POWER PLANTS
POWER STATIONS
PRESSURE VESSEL
PRESSURE VESSELS
PROCESS HEAT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUMPS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
QUALITY CONTROL
QUANTITY OF HEAT
RADIATION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIONUCLIDES
RADIUM
RAW MATERIALS
REACTOR VESSEL
RELIABILITY ENGINEERING
RENEWABLE ENERGY
RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES
RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
SAFETY
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
SAFETY MEASURES
SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
SAFETY REGULATIONS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SALTY WATER
SILICON
SILICON CARBIDE COATING
SILVER
SODIUM
SOLAR POWER
STEAM CYCLE
STEAM GENERATORS
STRUCTURES
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
TEMPERATURE
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
THERMAL ENERGY
THERMAL OUTPUT
THERMAL POWER
THERMAL STRESSES
TRANSMISSION FACILITIES
TRANSMISSION GRID
TURBINE
TURBINES
TURBULENCE
URANIUM
URANIUM FUEL
UTILITIES
WIND
WIND POWER
WIND RESOURCE
WIND RESOURCES
WORLD ENERGY
spellingShingle ABSORPTION
ACCIDENTS
AIR
AIR FLOW
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
APPROACH
ATMOSPHERE
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
AVAILABILITY
BORON
CADMIUM
CAPACITY FACTORS
CARBON CAPTURE
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON ECONOMY
CARBON ENERGY
CARBON ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
CARBON TECHNOLOGIES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL
CATASTROPHIC EVENTS
CHEMICAL PROCESSES
CLIMATE
CLIMATE CHANGE
CO
CO2
COAL
COAL PLANT
COD
COLD WATER
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES
CONSTRUCTION COST
CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS
CONVECTION
COOLING
COOLING TOWERS
COOLING WATER
CORROSION
COST PER KILOWATT
DESALINATION
DISASTERS
DISTRICT HEATING
DIVERGENCE
ELECTRIC GRIDS
ELECTRIC OUTPUT
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTRICAL ENERGY
ELECTRICAL POWER
ELECTRICITY
ELECTRICITY DEMAND
ELECTRICITY GENERATION
ELECTRICITY SUPPLY
ELECTRICITY SYSTEM
ENERGY MIX
ENERGY NEEDS
ENERGY POLICY
ENERGY SECURITY
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY USE
ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING DESIGN
ENGINEERS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
EXPLOSIVE
FEEDWATER
FLEXIBILITY
FLUIDS
FOOD PRODUCTION
FOSSIL
FOSSIL FUEL
FOSSIL FUEL PRICES
FUEL COSTS
FUEL CYCLE
FUEL INVENTORY
FUELS
GAS TURBINE
GASES
GENERATION
GENERATION CAPACITY
GLOBAL ELECTRICITY GENERATION
GLOBAL ENERGY MIX
GRAPHITE
GREEN ENERGY
GREENHOUSE
GREENHOUSE GAS
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
HAZARDS
HEALTH RISKS
HEAT CAPACITY
HEAT EXCHANGER
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
HELIUM
HIGH LEVELS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
HYDROPOWER
INCOME
INSURANCE
IRRADIATION
KINETIC ENERGY
LEAKAGE
LITHIUM
LOW-CARBON
MASS
NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS
NATURAL GAS
NEW PLANT
NUCLEAR CAPACITY
NUCLEAR ENERGY
NUCLEAR FACILITIES
NUCLEAR FISSION
NUCLEAR FUEL
NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEAR INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR MATERIAL
NUCLEAR PLANT
NUCLEAR PLANT CONSTRUCTION
NUCLEAR PLANTS
NUCLEAR POWER
NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY
NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
NUCLEAR POWER STATION
NUCLEAR REACTOR
NUCLEAR REACTORS
NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
NUCLEAR WASTE
NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL
OUTLET TEMPERATURES
PARTICLES
PELLETS
PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY
PETROLEUM
PETROLEUM REFINING
PHOTOVOLTAICS
PIPES
PLANT DESIGN
PLANT DESIGNS
POROSITY
POWER COMPANY
POWER DEMAND
POWER GRID
POWER PLANTS
POWER STATIONS
PRESSURE VESSEL
PRESSURE VESSELS
PROCESS HEAT
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PUBLIC HEALTH
PUMPS
QUALITY ASSURANCE
QUALITY CONTROL
QUANTITY OF HEAT
RADIATION
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
RADIOACTIVITY
RADIONUCLIDES
RADIUM
RAW MATERIALS
REACTOR VESSEL
RELIABILITY ENGINEERING
RENEWABLE ENERGY
RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES
RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES
SAFETY
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
SAFETY MEASURES
SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
SAFETY REGULATIONS
SAFETY STANDARDS
SALTY WATER
SILICON
SILICON CARBIDE COATING
SILVER
SODIUM
SOLAR POWER
STEAM CYCLE
STEAM GENERATORS
STRUCTURES
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
TEMPERATURE
THERMAL EFFICIENCY
THERMAL ENERGY
THERMAL OUTPUT
THERMAL POWER
THERMAL STRESSES
TRANSMISSION FACILITIES
TRANSMISSION GRID
TURBINE
TURBINES
TURBULENCE
URANIUM
URANIUM FUEL
UTILITIES
WIND
WIND POWER
WIND RESOURCE
WIND RESOURCES
WORLD ENERGY
Kessides, Ioannis N.
The Future of the Nuclear Industry Reconsidered : Risks, Uncertainties, and Continued Potential
relation Policy Research Working Paper;No. 6112
description Skeptics point out, with some justification, that the nuclear industry's prospects were dimmed by escalating costs long before Fukushima. If history is any guide, one direct consequence of the calamity in Japan will be more stringent safety requirements and regulatory delays that will inevitably increase the costs of nuclear power and further undermine its economic viability. For nuclear power to play a major role in meeting the future global energy needs and mitigating the threat of climate change, the hazards of another Fukushima and the construction delays and costs escalation that have plagued the industry will have to be substantially reduced. One promising direction for nuclear development might be to downsize reactors from the gigawatt scale to less-complex smaller units that are more affordable. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are scalable nuclear power plant designs that promise to reduce investment risks through incremental capacity expansion; become more standardized and reduce costs through accelerated learning effects; and address concerns about catastrophic events, since they contain substantially smaller radioactive inventory. Given their lower capital requirements and small size, which makes them suitable for small electric grids, SMRs can more effectively address the energy needs of small developing countries.
format Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper
author Kessides, Ioannis N.
author_facet Kessides, Ioannis N.
author_sort Kessides, Ioannis N.
title The Future of the Nuclear Industry Reconsidered : Risks, Uncertainties, and Continued Potential
title_short The Future of the Nuclear Industry Reconsidered : Risks, Uncertainties, and Continued Potential
title_full The Future of the Nuclear Industry Reconsidered : Risks, Uncertainties, and Continued Potential
title_fullStr The Future of the Nuclear Industry Reconsidered : Risks, Uncertainties, and Continued Potential
title_full_unstemmed The Future of the Nuclear Industry Reconsidered : Risks, Uncertainties, and Continued Potential
title_sort future of the nuclear industry reconsidered : risks, uncertainties, and continued potential
publisher World Bank, Washington, DC
publishDate 2014
url http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/06/16448399/future-nuclear-industry-reconsidered-risks-uncertainties-continued-potential
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19935
_version_ 1764443943699742720
spelling okr-10986-199352021-04-23T14:03:52Z The Future of the Nuclear Industry Reconsidered : Risks, Uncertainties, and Continued Potential Kessides, Ioannis N. ABSORPTION ACCIDENTS AIR AIR FLOW ALTERNATIVE ENERGY APPROACH ATMOSPHERE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AVAILABILITY BORON CADMIUM CAPACITY FACTORS CARBON CAPTURE CARBON DIOXIDE CARBON ECONOMY CARBON ENERGY CARBON ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES CARBON TECHNOLOGIES CARBONACEOUS MATERIAL CATASTROPHIC EVENTS CHEMICAL PROCESSES CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE CO CO2 COAL COAL PLANT COD COLD WATER CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES CONSTRUCTION COST CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS CONVECTION COOLING COOLING TOWERS COOLING WATER CORROSION COST PER KILOWATT DESALINATION DISASTERS DISTRICT HEATING DIVERGENCE ELECTRIC GRIDS ELECTRIC OUTPUT ELECTRIC POWER ELECTRICAL ENERGY ELECTRICAL POWER ELECTRICITY ELECTRICITY DEMAND ELECTRICITY GENERATION ELECTRICITY SUPPLY ELECTRICITY SYSTEM ENERGY MIX ENERGY NEEDS ENERGY POLICY ENERGY SECURITY ENERGY SOURCES ENERGY SYSTEMS ENERGY TECHNOLOGY ENERGY USE ENGINEERING ENGINEERING DESIGN ENGINEERS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY EXPLOSIVE FEEDWATER FLEXIBILITY FLUIDS FOOD PRODUCTION FOSSIL FOSSIL FUEL FOSSIL FUEL PRICES FUEL COSTS FUEL CYCLE FUEL INVENTORY FUELS GAS TURBINE GASES GENERATION GENERATION CAPACITY GLOBAL ELECTRICITY GENERATION GLOBAL ENERGY MIX GRAPHITE GREEN ENERGY GREENHOUSE GREENHOUSE GAS GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS HAZARDS HEALTH RISKS HEAT CAPACITY HEAT EXCHANGER HEAT EXCHANGERS HEAT TRANSFER HELIUM HIGH LEVELS HYDROGEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION HYDROPOWER INCOME INSURANCE IRRADIATION KINETIC ENERGY LEAKAGE LITHIUM LOW-CARBON MASS NATURAL ECOSYSTEMS NATURAL GAS NEW PLANT NUCLEAR CAPACITY NUCLEAR ENERGY NUCLEAR FACILITIES NUCLEAR FISSION NUCLEAR FUEL NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE NUCLEAR FUELS NUCLEAR INDUSTRY NUCLEAR MATERIAL NUCLEAR PLANT NUCLEAR PLANT CONSTRUCTION NUCLEAR PLANTS NUCLEAR POWER NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY NUCLEAR POWER PLANT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS NUCLEAR POWER STATION NUCLEAR REACTOR NUCLEAR REACTORS NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY NUCLEAR WASTE NUCLEAR WASTE DISPOSAL OUTLET TEMPERATURES PARTICLES PELLETS PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY PETROLEUM PETROLEUM REFINING PHOTOVOLTAICS PIPES PLANT DESIGN PLANT DESIGNS POROSITY POWER COMPANY POWER DEMAND POWER GRID POWER PLANTS POWER STATIONS PRESSURE VESSEL PRESSURE VESSELS PROCESS HEAT PROJECT MANAGEMENT PUBLIC HEALTH PUMPS QUALITY ASSURANCE QUALITY CONTROL QUANTITY OF HEAT RADIATION RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS RADIOACTIVE WASTE RADIOACTIVITY RADIONUCLIDES RADIUM RAW MATERIALS REACTOR VESSEL RELIABILITY ENGINEERING RENEWABLE ENERGY RENEWABLE ENERGY FACILITIES RENEWABLE TECHNOLOGIES SAFETY SAFETY EQUIPMENT SAFETY MEASURES SAFETY OF NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS SAFETY REGULATIONS SAFETY STANDARDS SALTY WATER SILICON SILICON CARBIDE COATING SILVER SODIUM SOLAR POWER STEAM CYCLE STEAM GENERATORS STRUCTURES SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TEMPERATURE THERMAL EFFICIENCY THERMAL ENERGY THERMAL OUTPUT THERMAL POWER THERMAL STRESSES TRANSMISSION FACILITIES TRANSMISSION GRID TURBINE TURBINES TURBULENCE URANIUM URANIUM FUEL UTILITIES WIND WIND POWER WIND RESOURCE WIND RESOURCES WORLD ENERGY Skeptics point out, with some justification, that the nuclear industry's prospects were dimmed by escalating costs long before Fukushima. If history is any guide, one direct consequence of the calamity in Japan will be more stringent safety requirements and regulatory delays that will inevitably increase the costs of nuclear power and further undermine its economic viability. For nuclear power to play a major role in meeting the future global energy needs and mitigating the threat of climate change, the hazards of another Fukushima and the construction delays and costs escalation that have plagued the industry will have to be substantially reduced. One promising direction for nuclear development might be to downsize reactors from the gigawatt scale to less-complex smaller units that are more affordable. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are scalable nuclear power plant designs that promise to reduce investment risks through incremental capacity expansion; become more standardized and reduce costs through accelerated learning effects; and address concerns about catastrophic events, since they contain substantially smaller radioactive inventory. Given their lower capital requirements and small size, which makes them suitable for small electric grids, SMRs can more effectively address the energy needs of small developing countries. 2014-09-02T19:22:18Z 2014-09-02T19:22:18Z 2012-06 http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2012/06/16448399/future-nuclear-industry-reconsidered-risks-uncertainties-continued-potential http://hdl.handle.net/10986/19935 English en_US Policy Research Working Paper;No. 6112 CC BY 3.0 IGO http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo/ World Bank, Washington, DC Publications & Research :: Policy Research Working Paper Publications & Research