International Conference Nuclear Energy for New Europe 2005 Bled Slovenia September 5-8 Considerations for a Sustainable Nuclear Fission Energy in Europe G. Cognet - P. Ledermann D.G. Cacuci CEA - France 1
Energy : Is there a problem? 2
Evolution of Population on Earth Today: 6 billion inhabitants Around 9 billion by 2050 an increase of ~ 50% 3
Evolution of Energy Needs Energy is a factor of development (Energy consumption of 1 afghan is 150 less than of those of 1 European) 28 % of world population consume 77% of world energy production 1,6 billion of people have no access to electricity Life Expectancy Life expectancy vs energy consumption (World) 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 0 1500 3000 4500 6000 7500 9000 Energy (kgoe/inhabitant) Access to energy is a right Various scenarios are foreseen Energy consumption will increase 4
Global Energy Perspectives (WEC- IIASA 1998) A : High growth (Income, energy, technology) B : Modest growth C : Ecologically driven growth Source : IIASA/WEC, 1998 Hypothesis B 19.7 Gtoe in 2050 5
Sustainable Development Vision Scenario (IEA 2003) 30 Other Renewables 9 World Primary Energy Sources (Gtoe) 25 20 15 10 5 Biomass Nuclear Gas Oil Coal Population 8,5 8 7,5 7 6,5 World Population (Billions) 0 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 2040 2050 Source IEA : Energy to 2050 - Scenarios for a Sustainable Future 6 6
What should respect a sustainable scenario? An increasing energy demand in the world by 2050, but also Limiting of CO2 emissions Energy supply security Access to energy for underprivileged populations Nuclear energy should play a major role in the next 50 years 3,9 Gtoe REN (EM) 5 Gtoe Nuclear energy could be used even more extensively if: 1,3 Gtoe REN 0,7 0.7 Gtoe Nuclear Gas 8,0 Gtoe Oil Oil Coal Coal Total Total : 10,1 : 10,1 Gtoe Gtoe (2000) 3,2 Gtoe Nuclear Gas 12,6 Gtoe REN Oil Oil Coal Coal Total : 10,1 : 19,7 Gtoe Gtoe (IIASA (2000) B : 2050) REN (without 5 Gtoe solar cells) Nuclear 2,5 Gtoe? Total : 14 : 14 Gtoe (2050?)?) 2,5 Gtoe Carbonaceous energy 4 Gtoe (without CO2 sequestration) The 2.5 Gtoe of primary energy not yet allocated cannot be obtained from fossil fuels The obligations imposed in terms of energy management (EM) and renewable energies (RENs) cannot be met 7
Nuclear Energy assets for a worldwide development No CO2 or Green House Gases produced no risks of Climate Change Nuclear Energy enhances the Energy Security Supply (versus fossil fuels) and reduces geopolitical / economical risks An already competitive energy source with still expected improvements Promising assets to produce Hydrogen as a new energy vector for transports Safe and reliable with more than 10 000 year.reactors of experience 8
Public Acceptance of Nuclear Fission Nevertheless, in order to be accepted by public opinion as a credible option for long-term energy production, nuclear fission energy generation should go further towards meeting criteria for sustainable development High-level safety and security Protection of workers, population and environment, against radiological hazards Minimised long-lived, high level radiotoxic waste Safe disposal of remaining waste products Optimised use of natural resources What are the challenges for a large expansion of Nuclear Power? 9
Ultimate Waste Disposal Mines Spent Fuel Reprocessing Front-End Sector Spent Fuel Management : Closing the fuel cycle Natural Uranium Uranium recyclable Plutonium Reactors & Services Sector Recycling : MOX Fuel fabrication Chemistry Enrichment Enriched Uranium Fuel Fabric. Reactors & Services Back-End Sector A 2 to 6% cost increase in the kwh price of reprocessing and recycling against the once-through option (based on real costs and on a long lasting industrial experience in France) to be balanced with clear benefits of recycling : reduction of the volume of final waste more effective use of natural resources (up to 25% reduction of natural uranium consumption) better route to more advanced and efficient nuclear systems (advanced partitioning, transmutation, breeding ) Closed cycle: A more sustainable policy satisfying the present needs without impairing the capacities of the next generations 10
Gen III : An improved back-end of the Fuel Cycle EPR, an increased flexibility for MOX use in reactors Up to 100% MOX Core An enhanced capacity to burn Plutonium MOX Plutonium annual balance Kg Pu/year REP 900 UOX Control rods EPR REP 900 UO 2 : + 200 REP 900 MOX : 0 EPR 100% MOX : - 670 Enhanced ability for plutonium multi-recycling 11
Evolution of the Spent Fuel Radiotoxic Content Relative radiotoxicity level - Reference : extracted natural uranium (UOX fuel) 10000 1000 100 10 1 Spent UOX fuel Standard vitrified waste (MA + FP) Vitrified waste without MA (only FP) One Pu recycling (MOX in PWR) Multiple Pu recycling in PWR Multiple Pu recycling in Gen IV FNR Global recycling (Pu+MA) in Gen IV FNR Natural Uranium for PWR UOX (same energy produced) 0,1 10 100 1000 10000 100000 1000000 Time after irradiation or spent fuel processing (year) Spent UOX fuel: direct disposal of the irradiated fuel Standard vitrified waste: glasses with MA and FP from the UOX spent fuel processing (as produced today at La Hague facility) Vitrified waste without MA: standard vitrified waste (see upper) but without any M.A. (only FP from the UOX spent fuel processing) One Pu recycling: All TRU after single Pu recycling in PWR Multiple Pu recycling in PWR: M.A. and F.P. from the UOX and MOX spent fuel processing in case of a scenario with multiple Pu recycling in PWR Multiple Pu recycling in FR: M.A. and F.P. from the FR spent fuel processing in case of a scenario with multiple Pu recycling in FR Global recycling (Pu+M.A.) in Gen IV FR: F.P. from the FR spent fuel processing in case of a scenario with multiple Pu and M.A. recycling in FR 12
Reprocessing & Recycling, a cornerstone for future Extract the maximum energy from the fuel Minimize waste radiotoxicity & volume volume/5 radiotoxicity/10 Valuable materials (96%) Uranium (94 to 96 %) Plutonium (1 %) Reprocessing & Recycling Waste (4%) Fission Products (3 to 5 %) Minor Actinides (0,1 %) No plutonium in ultimate waste Vitrification of ultimate waste : very safe conditioning providing long lasting confinement of radioactive waste R&D needs in partitioning and transmutation 13
Conception and test of molecules Partitioning France: Feasibility of partitioning Qualification 01 Technological demonstration of process France: Evaluation report 04 Industrial stage: ~ 2030 U Pu NP Am Cm Actinides Spent fuel RETRAITEMENT REPROCESSING + Partitioning FP Very selective molecules Partitioning performances > 99 % Glass 14
Transmutation France: Feasibility of transmutation France: Evaluation report 91 Physics 98 01 scenarios and systems 04 Industrial stage: ~ 2040 Gain in radiotoxicity, reduction compared to open cycle Integral recycling of plutonium and minor actinides Recycling of plutonium Open cycle ECRIX ( 2,75 g of Am) Time (years) 15
What nuclear reactors for future? If the world nuclear park is based on current technology with an installed capacity which will remain stable until 2020 and then could grow linearly until 2050, the uranium resources consumed and earmarked in 2050 would be : Nuclear primary energy in 2050 (Gtoe) 0.7 1.8 2.5 3.2 Installed capacity in 2050 (GWe) 400 1000 1400 1700 U nat consumed and earmarked in 2050 (Mt) 6 12 16 19 The resources of U (15 million tons) will have been earmarked once the installed capacity reaches 1300 GWe Breeding, or at least iso-generation, reactors will therefore be needed before this time. Technological Breakthroughs 16
GEN IV paves the way for a sustainable nuclear energy New requirements for sustainable nuclear energy Gradual improvements in Competitiveness Safety and reliability Assets for new markets attractiveness simplicity, robustness (safety, non proliferation) Assets for new applications hydrogen production direct use of heat sea water desalination Concepts with breakthroughs Minimization of wastes Preservation of resources Non Proliferation U.S.A. Argentina Generation IV International Forum Members 17 Brazil Canada France South Africa United Kingdom E.U. Switzerla nd Japan South Korea
6 Innovative concepts with technological breakthroughs Sodium Fast reactor Closed Fuel Cycle Lead Fast Reactor Closed Fuel Cycle Closed Fuel Cycle Gas Fast Reactor Once Through Very High Temperature Reactor Once/Closed Supercritical Water Reactor Molten Salt Reactor Closed Fuel Cycle 18
. Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) System innovations Simplification, integrated or loop concept Service, maintenance & repair inspection Conversion with supercritical CO2 turbine Fuel with minor actinides Technology ferritic steels, CO 2 exchangers, etc Improved prevention of severe accident Main Milestones 2009: Feasibility 2015: Confirmation of performance 2020+: SFR Demonstrative Prototype EFR 19
GEN IV : R&D on Gas Cooled Reactors GFR HTR R & D Fuel particles Materials He systems technology Computer codes Fuel cycle VHTR R & D VHT materials IHX for heat process ZrC coated fuel I-S cycle : H 2 production R & D Fast neutron fuel Fuel actinide recycling Safety systems 20
Calculation system Particle fuel Hydrogen production and Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) Very high temperature resistant materials (> 950 C) Apollo2 Cronos2 High temperature helium circuit technology Hydrogen production processes Conversion system Main Milestones 2009: Feasibility 2015: Confirmation of performance 2017: NGNP 1 st Demonstrator ANTARES Tribology Fuel 21
Gas Fast Reactor ( GFR) Fuel and core materials GFR fuel Choice of fuel reference materials (composite ceramic, ceramic cladding, etc.) Fuel cycle reference technology Accident management (depressurisation, etc...) High temperature helium circuit technology Applications technology (Gas turbine, etc ) Main Milestones 2012: Feasibility 2020: Confirmation of performance 2025+: GFR 1 st Demonstrator 1.2 GWe GFR 22
European Context: Energy Production Europe (25+5) - 16 countries using nuclear fission - 164 Reactors in operation today (137 GWe capacity) coal 16% nuclear 16% EU-15 renewable 6% Primary energy - 4700 year.reactors capitalized until 2003 (3730 y.r. for Northern America) - 1000 TWh produced in 2003-28% of total power generation gas 21% gas 13% oil 8% oil 41% hydro 11% others 2% Power Generation from 2000 to 2020 + 200-300 GWe of new capacities coal 31% nuclear 35% Electricity + 300 GWe for replacing retiring capacities 23
A European strategy for nuclear energy? 3 recent events could stimulate a change in the perception of the role of nuclear energy in Europe : The Green Paper Europe «the need to keep nuclear power at the heart of Europe s energy mix» European Parliament resolution, November 2001 The effective participation of EURATOM in the Gen IV International Forum since September 2003 GIF The International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy signed in Washington in November 2003 24
What stakes in the involvement of Europe in future nuclear energy systems? Be ready for the Gen II/III reactors fleet renewal stage by 2040 in 2015-2020 be able to choose a fast neutron system technology with an optimized management of actinides Join the international effort to meet future hydrogen needs in 2015-20 be able to choose a nuclear production process Preserve our role of European leader on the international scene Enhance past European experience into innovative technologies (sodium fast reactors, fuel cycle processes ) Develop new technologies to preserve our leadership Share the same view and a common strategy 25
A European R & D parallel to Gen IV European 5 th Framework Programme Michelangelo Network HTR Technology Network Gas Cooled Fast Reactor (GCFR) High Performance LWR (HPLWR) Molten Salt Technology review (MOST) European 6 th Framework Programme RAPHAEL (ex V/HTR-IP) (Integrated project) GCFR: Gas Cooled Fast Reactor (Strep) HPLWR-II (Strep under preparation) MOST-MSR (Strep under preparation) Sodium Fast Reactor (Strep under preparation) Generation IV International Forum Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) Gas Fast Reactor (GFR) Supercritical Water Reactor (SCWR) Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) Lead Fast reactor (LFR) Possibilities of direct contributions of Euratom countries to Forum Generation IV, but needs of a coordination 26
LWR (current & Gen-3) Competitiveness and Safety Optimization Sustainable Nuclear Fission Technology Platform (SNF-TP) Materials & Fuel Development Reactor Design & Safety Training and R&D Infrastructures Fuel Cycle and Waste Processes System Integration (Economy, non proliferation ) VHTR Process Heat, Electricity & H2 Fast Neutron Systems & Closed Fuel Cycle Critical Reactors ADS Geological Disposal Technologies, design, safety assessment 27
SNF-TP Partnership CEA JRC FZK EDF AREVA VTT NRG SKC FZR Research Organizations UPM KFKI UJV PSI SCK-CEN KKL FORATOM Industries, Utilities, Waste Agencies BNFL ANDRA SNF-TP 28
Establishing SNF-TP: Typical Road Map GoP Report of the Group of Personalities Vision 2020 The Strategic Planning Route CA:SNF-TP The Implementation Route SRA The Strategic Research Agenda - Revision every 2 years - Stakeholders Public (EU, National, Euro-control, etc.) SNF-TP starting and Private (Industry) 2004 2006 2007 Research Programs Research Projects 29
Conclusions Although, existing nuclear technologies are mature and proved, nuclear fission energy generation must still to be improved to : meet all the criteria for sustainable development be accepted by public opinion as a credible option for long-term energy production Europe has good assets to play a major role A large cooperative framework is needed for a more extended research area The Sustainable Nuclear Fission Technology Platform should bring some answers 30
Thank you for your attention 31