Title: Value of nuclear power in the global energy system

Authors: Kenji Yamaji, Koichi Osada, Yuko Mori

Addresses: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Tokyo, 7-3-1, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan. System Research Center Co. Ltd., 3-18-6 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105, Japan. System Research Center Co. Ltd., 3-18-6 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105, Japan

Abstract: With a global energy model which finds the minimum cost energy system over the time range of 1995-2055, the value of nuclear power is analysed. The model incorporates detailed descriptions of energy conversion technologies. For nuclear technologies, light water reactors and fast breeder reactors are taken into account with fuel cycle options. Major findings are: 1) the maximum introduction of LWRs would have only a small effect in reducing the global CO₂ emissions; 2) FBRs would be introduced at the almost maximum scale when the stabilisation of global CO₂ emission is required; 3) the role of FBRs in reducing the global CO₂ emission is very robust against the deterioration of their economics; and 4) integrated coal gasification combined cycle power generation (IGCC) with CO₂ recovery would replace the role when FBRs are not introduced.

Keywords: energy model; global warming; CO₂ emission; LWR; FBR; plutonium; spent fuel storage; uranium resource.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1998.000819

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1998 Vol.11 No.1/2/3/4, pp.73-82

Published online: 24 Jul 2003 *

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