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Effect of nuclear power on CO2 emission from power plant sector in Iran

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Abstract

Introduction

It is predicted that demand for electricity in Islamic Republic of Iran will continue to increase dramatically in the future due to the rapid pace of economic development leading to construction of new power plants. At the present time, most of electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels which result in emission of great deal of pollutants and greenhouse gases (GHG) such as SO2, NOx, and CO2. The power industry is the largest contributor to these emissions. Due to minimal emission of GHG by renewable and nuclear power plants, they are most suitable replacements for the fossil-fueled power plants. However, the nuclear power plants are more suitable than renewable power plants in providing baseload electricity. The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, the only nuclear power plant of Iran, is expected to start operation in 2010. This paper attempts to interpret the role of Bushehr nuclear power plant (BNPP) in CO2 emission trend of power plant sector in Iran.

Materials and methods

In order to calculate CO2 emissions from power plants, National CO2 coefficients have been used. The National CO2 emission coefficients are according to different fuels (natural gas, fuels gas, fuel oil).

Results and Discussion

By operating Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant in 2010, nominal capacity of electricity generation in Iran will increase by about 1,000 MW, which increases the electricity generation by almost 7,000 MWh/year (it is calculated according to availability factor and nominal capacity of BNPP).

Conclusions

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will decrease the CO2 emission in Iran power sector, by about 3% in 2010.

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Notes

  1. Energy Sector in Iran means energy consumers sector which include of household and commercial sector, transport sector, industry sector, refinery sector, and agriculture sector.

  2. At the time of preparing this paper, the last official statistical report of energy sector and greenhouse gas emissions of it in Iran belongs to 2007, so the data used in this paper is a 40-year period, since 1968 to 2007.

  3. Uranium Conversion Facility

  4. Zirconium Production Plant

  5. Fuel Manufacturing Plant

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Islamic Azad University, Takestan Branch, Takestan, Iran

    Nargess Kargari

  2. Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran

    Reza Mastouri

Authors
  1. Nargess Kargari
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  2. Reza Mastouri
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Correspondence to Nargess Kargari.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Kargari, N., Mastouri, R. Effect of nuclear power on CO2 emission from power plant sector in Iran. Environ Sci Pollut Res 18, 116–122 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0402-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-010-0402-3

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