Ecological transition to nuclear (Michel Gay) France

Cheers ecological transition to nuclear Nuclear power is the future of ecological transition.

By Michel Gay January 30, 2014

First, one can be ecologist and support nuclear power as a means to ensure energy transition and, more generally, the ecological transition. There are several organizations that support both ecology and nuclear, including the Association of Environmentalists For Nuclear Energy ( AEPN in France).

Then, nuclear power plants, including breeder reactors of the next generation called " IV" , meet all the criteria set out in the French White Paper on the funding of ecological transition published in France in November 2013.

For countries that will do this choice, the nuclear will allow harmonious development of ecological transition (not just energy). The two main objectives are to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels and protect the environment by taking into account economic development and social and community issues .

The seven reasons why nuclear meets the requirements set by the French White Paper on ecological transition :

1) Nuclear power consumes no fossil fuels and emits no greenhouse gas emissions. It therefore contributes to " climate stabilization " and participates in a " low-carbon economic development mode " (Page 3). The carbon-free electricity can substitute for fossil fuels in many uses, particularly in the transport and heating.

It does not emit any CO2 or methane, or greenhouse gas emissions. The nuclear will facilitate " adaptation to global warming. Acting now suppose then take these parameters into account starting today in the socio-economic assessment of investment relating to the construction and renewal of long life infrastructures and industrial facilities " (P11). Investment in the renewal of the current nuclear fleet

by EPR (generation 3) and breeder (4th generation) must be taken into account now.

2) The future of nuclear power (Fast Breeders reactors, FBR) will consume very little raw material and it is durable (more than 3000 years of uranium reserves are already available on the French soil).

He participated in " the preservation of ecosystems and sustainable use of resources" (P3).

Nuclear consumes few natural resources (one gram uranium a year per capita in France) . A nuclear reactor consumes very little water. The abstracted for cooling water is returned to the natural environment intact in liquid form or, for a small share, steam.

Nuclear conserves natural resources, including gas and oil for other uses such as transportation for which it is difficult to replace. He participated in the " vital issue for our societies which must evolve towards development models that consume less natural resources " (P3).

Its footprint is small relative to its electricity production. The EPR has a hundred hectare (ha) footprint against 22400 ha for photovoltaic for the same annual production. About 6000 ha are needed for on shore wind turbine even if we can use much for crops but one cannot not live there (see annex for calculations).

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3) Nuclear power is financially sustainable. It is the means of producing the cheapest electricity after the dams . " The ecological transition requires significant investments for the next forty years, and it will be more expensive if it is delayed ."

4 ) Nuclear emits little or no pollution. Its packaged wastes are currently stored on the surface waiting for a political decision that will probably be a deep geological disposal, now internationally recognized as the best solution.

There are no emissions of particles or toxic gases (sulfur dioxide , etc ...) . " He participated in the" need for our economies to make them compatible with the evolution of the planet 's finite resources and maintaining essential to life natural regulation" (P3).

The volume of waste is low and its management is mastered. The volume of conditioned radioactive waste for geological disposal is less than 400 m3 per year or 3 thimbles (7 cm3 = 0.7 cl ) by French and year. If we add all the low-level radioactive waste stored on the surface, a volume of 60,000 m3 per year is obtained, one liter per year per French. Nearly 75% of this waste is already stored permanently.

5) Nuclear power " is in the context of sustainable development within the meaning assigned to that term in international treaties" (P3) as defined by the title of Part III of the Declaration of Rio +20 , " Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication . " Indeed, it contributes directly to poverty eradication in developed countries through the production of electricity at low cost, and indirectly in the least developed countries in reducing the demand on fossil fuels. This lower demand allows these energies not to grow more on global markets which also benefits to the poor countries. " By 2050 , companies will be able to meet a demand of 9.3 billion people [...] while the natural resources and regulations are often already used and degraded or overexploited " (P6) .

6 ) Nuclear meets the criterion " sustainable use " (P3). It increases our energy independence (6 years of nuclear reserve fuel on our soil for the generation II and III; stable price and low uranium; many suppliers in the world). Generation IV will no longer need imports for hundreds or thousands of years ! There are currently 3000 years of reserve fuel in France for generation IV. There will be 5,000 years in 2050, expected date of commencement of these new reactors.

7) Nuclear energy is a " factor of innovation and competitiveness for the economy " (p3). Build nuclear power plants requires a high level of innovation, research, technology and know-how. " The ecological transition could be a lever for development for some branches on which France appears well positioned and has comparative advantages " (P16). The nuclear power generation in France avoids the purchase abroad of € 20 billion ( € Bn ) of gas ( or coal ) per year. The export of equipment and know-how represent € 6 Bn / year and the balance sheet of our electricity trade in Europe is a positive balance of € 3 Bn / year.

Conclusion : With its advantages, nuclear can therefore already actively involved in the " new industrial revolution but also intellectual " (P4). Nuclear power can also "feed the basis of willingness to " (re) society "(sic) , that is to say, to strengthen " affectio societatis " factor of socio- economic resilience both nationally and local , especially in this critical period " (P4). So "be happy" and cheers to the ecological transition to nuclear !

That is why nuclear power is the future of ecological transition for France and for the countries that choose this path. They will benefit from abundant, low-carbon, safe energy, with a very low impact on the environment to meet the needs of modern societies which legitimately aspire to a high level of comfort.

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ANNEX Calculations on the footprints of various means of electrical productions The figures are taken from : http://fr.viadeo.com/fr/groups/detaildiscussion/?containerId=00218g7p8hf6oi3k&forumId=0021rzuek65 6e5wj&action=messageDetail&messageId=00299kpl66xwc0d EPR : Cost € 8.5 billion, total area: 112 ha

PV : We take the example of the solar farm Toul -Rosières, near Nancy in Meurthe et Moselle : 450 million invested by EDF electric power 143 MW and an expected return of 15% (?) . Building area: 367 ha ( of which 120 are occupied by 1.5 million panels manufactured by First Solar U.S. Co ) .

Annual electricity production : 188 million kWh. To provide the same amount of electricity as EPR (with an estimated 15% , which is optimistic given that the sunshine of the Moselle performance is not one of the South of France ) , we must 61 solar farms of this type .

Building area: 22,400 ha (including 7,500 ha occupied by 91 million panels ! ).

PV : Cost € 27.5 billion, total area: 22,400 ha ( for intermittent production day and more in summer than in winter).

Onshore wind turbine : we will take the example of the wind farm Four False Ardennes : 700 million invested in an electric output of 330 MW and an expected return of 20%. 47 7 MW turbines on a busy area of 300 ha .

Annual electricity production : 578 million kWh. To provide the same amount of electricity as EPR, so it takes 20 wind farms of this type . Building area: 6,000 ha and 4.7 million tons of concrete (5,000 tons / wind turbine) Onshore wind turbine : Cost € 14 billion , total area: 6000 ha ( for a variable, intermittent , uncontrollable output).

Note : For both the wind and for photovoltaic periods of low wind and night, must be added the cost of extra power (gas or coal) or storage means which are important energy yet to be invented ( except for some existing and well short of what amounts of energy involved in a nation "STEP" ).

STEP: (Plant for transfer energy by pumping) energy transfer pump that pumps water into a reservoir downstream to the upstream control during power "surplus." This water is then turbines during periods of high demand. The available power is about 4 GW for a few hours in France, the average requirement ranges from 50 GW to 80 GW with more than 90 GW peak.

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