The Reinassance of Nuclear Power

Abstract

Nuclear power set off commercially in the 50’s, with very high hopes in Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States among others. Under the oil crisis, France started a very aggressive program to generate about 70 % of its electrical production from nuclear power. However, in the eighties, as a result of the Three Mile Island accident, several safety concerns were raised, resulting in considerable construction and operation delays. Many planned reactors were left behind and after the Chernobyl accident, reactor construction was stopped in the western world. However in the meantime, the Industry made improvements in safety measurements and performance of its nuclear power facilities. The capacity factor of nuclear plants grew to be around 90 %. The operation licensees of many units were renewed for another 20 years after their first 40 years of operation. Today there are new expectations for nuclear power not only because its economical competitiveness but its potential to produce electricity without greenhouse gas emissions consequently making feasible to achieve Kyoto protocol goals to alleviate global warming. This paper shows the potential of nuclear power as a clean, safe and innovative energy.