Is it a myth that France has a successful nuclear industry?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the perceived success of France's nuclear industry, highlighting significant financial challenges and project overruns. Areva's Olkiluoto reactor in Finland has faced a 55% cost increase, amounting to $2.2 billion, while the Flamanville project in France is over $1 billion over budget after just one year. Critics argue that despite France's heavy investment in nuclear power, only 16% of its final energy comes from nuclear sources, with nearly half of its energy consumption still reliant on oil. The conversation also touches on the political complexities surrounding nuclear waste management, particularly in relation to the failed Yucca Mountain project in the U.S.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of nuclear energy production and its economic implications.
  • Familiarity with project management concepts, particularly in large-scale construction.
  • Knowledge of energy consumption metrics, including final energy and electricity production ratios.
  • Awareness of political influences on energy policy and waste management strategies.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the financial implications of nuclear plant construction delays and overruns.
  • Investigate the current status and future of the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository.
  • Learn about the process and technology behind nuclear waste reprocessing, particularly MOX fuel production.
  • Examine the energy consumption statistics of France, focusing on the balance between nuclear and fossil fuel sources.
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for energy policy analysts, nuclear engineers, environmental advocates, and anyone involved in the energy sector looking to understand the complexities and challenges of nuclear power in France and its implications on global energy strategies.

  • #31


mgb_phys said:
France also has a much smaller waste volume than the US because it reprocesses waste as MOX fuel, the US for various reasons doesn't allow reprocessing.
mgb_phys,

EXACTLY! One gets a LARGE reduction in the volume of the waste since spent nuclear fuel
is basically 96% U-238 that is no more radioactive than the day it was dug out of the ground.

The radioactive species are the fission products [ Strontium-90, Cesium-137 ] and the
capture products [ Plutonium-239, Plutonium-240, and other actinides ]. However, the fission products
and capture products constitute only a few percent of the spent fuel.

The reason the US doesn't reprocess is due to successful efforts by the anti-nukes with backing by
the Congress and various Administrations to oppose reprocessing. The whole strategy of the anti-nukes
is to DISALLOW reprocessing so that waste volume is maximized. The only allowed disposition for
spent fuel is geologic burial - and then the anti-nukes oppose the disposal site at Yucca Mountain.

The whole idea is to "constipate" the nuclear fuel cycle. The anti-nukes hope that if spent fuel can not
be reprocessed or disposed of - in fact can not even be transported from the reactor site - then sooner
or later the reactor operator will have no place to put additional waste and will not be able to discharge
and refuel the reactor. The reactor would have to shutdown - which is the goal of the anti-nukes.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist
 

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