NUCLEAR POWER INDUSTRY

Balancing the electricity demand with nuclear energy

Balancing the electricity demand is a one of the most important matters, which must be challenged in close future, not only in Europe, but in the whole world, especially in developing regions, such as China. People, with general knowledge about nuclear power plants think, nuclear energy can solve all of their problems. But in fact it is not true. So large energy concentration in one asset is difficult to achieve using other technologies. Wind power - most common among renewable sources can not even close to capacities offered by nuclear reactors. Germany, willing to fulfil country's electricity demand by renewable sources in 80% in 2050, in October 2010 decided to extend reactors lifetime in average by 12 years in 17 nuclear power plants [6]. They have done it even though, protests against nuclear energy and government ideas were strong and determinate. According to the Report of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the USA, has extended the license to operate in case of 51 power plants (19 extensions granted from 2003 to 2008) [7]. It indicates, that problem of meeting energy demand is difficult and leads to the opinion that at present technology's development and in the political circumstances, the use of other options is economically ineffective. Europe, in the near future will have to face problems with the introduction of the common European energy market. In such a market chances for success, may have only "old", operating nuclear power plants, because energy produced by them, is less expensive. New assets do not have such feature, they have too large CAPEX cost. Coal - fired plants in comparison to existing (not new) for example French nuclear power plants are more expensive.

The road to significant share of nuclear energy in the World is shown on the Fig. 3. Data covers, in principle, all nuclear evolution periods, since years 60's, when reactors have started to be commercial source of energy. It is a prove of nuclear stagnation after disasters in 1979 and 1986. By the end 80's a vast majority of today operating reactors were built. Since year 1990 and 2009, increase in installed capacity was only by 16%. Electricity production graph behaves similar to installed capacity line. Worth to admit is a decrease in world electricity production in year 2007 by almost 2% and in 2009 by 1,5%. It was caused by financial crisis, noticeable in the whole world.

Figure 3. Electricity production and installed capacity in nuclear industry 1965 - 2009
Source: Own development based on: "BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2010" [8]

The road to significant share of nuclear energy in the World is shown on the Fig. 3. Data covers, in principle, all nuclear evolution periods, since years 60's, when reactors have started to be commercial source of energy. It is a prove of nuclear stagnation after disasters in 1979 and 1986. By the end 80's a vast majority of today operating reactors were built. Since year 1990 and 2009, increase in installed capacity was only by 16%. Electricity production graph behaves similar to installed capacity line. Worth to admit is a decrease in world electricity production in year 2007 by almost 2% and in 2009 by 1,5%. It was caused by financial crisis, noticeable in the whole world.

Due to development's stop after Three Miles Island and Chernobyl, today's age structure of operating reactor is not satisfying. It is shown on Fig.4.

Figure 4. Number of reactors by age (as of 31 December 2009 )
Source: Own development based on "Nuclear Power Reactors in the World, 2010 Edition", International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna 2010 [9]

The 2nd generation reactors were calculated for 40 years of operation. It means that considerable part of existing reactors is approaching to decommissioning or it is necessary to extend their lifetimes, following Germany [6]. But is it really acceptable? Fact is, that new generation units being under construction at this moment, can not completely cover the supply gap after switching off old reactors.

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