We Need Nuke - But for the Right Reasons

According the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Nuclear power plants provide about 17% of the world's electricity, about 75% of the electricity in France is generated from nuclear power, and in the United States, nuclear power supplies about 15% of the electricity overall. There are more than 400 nuclear power plants around the world, with more than 100 in the United States. Uranium, Plutonium and Thorium are the common fuels used in producing nuclear energy. However, there are problems with nuclear as an energy source. Mining and purifying uranium is still not a very clean process. Improperly functioning nuclear power plants can create havoc – ‘Chernobyl’ the infamous example. Spent fuel from nuclear power plants is toxic for centuries, and there is no safe, permanent storage facility for it. Transporting nuclear fuel to and from plants also poses some risk.

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Recent advancement in technology has enabled mankind to reconsider this controversial energy source, especially in the light of surge in prices of coal and oil, and ofcourse, the environmental implication associated with power plants using conventional energy sources. Some of the cutting-edge fission reactors that are available today are much safer than ever, need very little maintenance through their life-cycle, and are extremely eco-friendly and cost-effective. Examples include - Hitachi RBWR (Resource Renewable Boiling Water Reactor); AREVA EPR; and Toshiba 4S (Super Safe, Small and Simple).

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Consider the case of Galena in Central Alaska – this is an area around the river Yukon, with small, isolated population centers, limited infrastructure and harsh conditions. According to Galena’s council budget, the power produced had to be less than $0.20 / KWH O&M costs; and less than $1.5 million in annual fuel costs. In addition, the power generator had to be of zero-to-low emissions, with modular/factory construction and yet, reliable & safe. Galena short-listed Toshiba to commission a solution that would be truly pioneering. Toshiba, in collaboration with CRIEPI, developed 4S, which simply stands for Super Safe, Small, & Simple. 4S is a compact Sodium-cooled, metallic-fueled reactor that uses enriched uranium (<20%) alloyed with zirconium. 4S comes in two variants – a 10 MW that is being commissioned in Galena, and a 50 MW that is still under development. 4S is factory built and delivered by barge to Galena, and the reactor is housed underground. 4S requires no refueling during its entire economic life of 30 years, and hence operationally hassle-free. Capital costs for 4S works out to $2.5 million per MW, and the electric power from 4S is estimated to be available at 5-7 cents per KWH. 4S reactor generates zero air or water emissions, and the reactor is returned to Japan at the end of its useful lifetime of 30 years (thereby eliminating nuclear issues), and Toshiba bears all (or most) of the licensing costs. If successful, 4S could just be the solution for countries that desperately need an alternative safe and economic solution to meet their growing energy needs. However, Toshiba has not yet indicated the time associated with commercialization and mass-production of 4S.
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Coming from a nation that is riddled with power outages due to an acute shortage, I believe nuclear could provide a viable alternative for our ever-growing appetite for energy. Having been outside the Nuclear non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), India has been largely excluded from trade in nuclear plants or materials in the past. The country is at the cornerstone of a new era, having signed the historic nuclear deal with the US, and this should pave the way for India to be on the same footing as China in respect to responsibilities and trade opportunities in nuclear industry.

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Currently, The Atomic Energy Act 1962 permits only Government-owned enterprises in India to be involved in nuclear power. I sincerely hope the Government revisits this law and amends it to accommodate private players who could play a vital role in plugging the nation’s energy gap. Interestingly, India is home to about 30% of global Thorium reserves, and this could potentially make the country a net exporter of nuclear fuel. Only time will tell if this is achievable, and thus counter the challenges surrounding our dependence on fossil fuels. Watch this space.