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Assessment of the actual sustainability of nuclear fission power

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  • Verbruggen, Aviel
  • Laes, Erik
  • Lemmens, Sanne

Abstract

This paper uses 19 criteria to assess whether nuclear fission power can be a part of sustainable development. This yes or no qualitative evaluation is due prior to ongoing marketability assessment and promotion of nuclear power by, for example, the IAEA, the IEA and the UK government. The criteria are classified into five groups. ‘Planet’ results demonstrate that the incompatibility of nuclear expansion with electricity efficiency and full renewable power deployment largely overshadows the carbon-free steam generation of nuclear fission. ‘Prosperity’ analyses show that including rolled-off costs and risks would raise bills to heights difficult to quantify due to doubts, long-term invisibility and irreversibility. ‘Risks’ may be catastrophic and are not insurable, while weaponry proliferation adds a further dimension. ‘People’ analyses reveal that some nuclear power is affordable for present generations when many costs remain unpaid; however, developing countries cannot afford the capital costs and technology intensity, and catastrophes wreak havoc on national economies, singling out exposed communities losing their habitats. ‘Politics’ assessments demonstrate that nuclear technocracy dominates the scene in many countries; the technocrats heavily influence policy-makers, the media, and celebrities speaking out in favor of nuclear. We identify the need for an independent global agency and for independent national nuclear regulatory institutions to safeguard the public interest.

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  • Verbruggen, Aviel & Laes, Erik & Lemmens, Sanne, 2014. "Assessment of the actual sustainability of nuclear fission power," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 16-28.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:32:y:2014:i:c:p:16-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2014.01.008
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    7. Andreopoulou, Zacharoula & Koliouska, Christiana & Galariotis, Emilios & Zopounidis, Constantin, 2018. "Renewable energy sources: Using PROMETHEE II for ranking websites to support market opportunities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 31-37.
    8. Jinchao Li & Xian Geng & Jinying Li, 2016. "A Comparison of Electricity Generation System Sustainability among G20 Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-11, December.
    9. Erik Laes & Pieter Valkering & Yves De Weerdt, 2019. "Diagnosing Barriers and Enablers for the Flemish Energy Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-19, October.
    10. Wealer, B. & Bauer, S. & Hirschhausen, C.v. & Kemfert, C. & Göke, L., 2021. "Investing into third generation nuclear power plants - Review of recent trends and analysis of future investments using Monte Carlo Simulation," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    11. Kontić, Branko & Bohanec, Marko & Kontić, Davor & Trdin, Nejc & Matko, Maruša, 2016. "Improving appraisal of sustainability of energy options – A view from Slovenia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 154-171.
    12. Emre İşeri & Defne Günay & Alper Almaz, 2018. "Contending narratives on the sustainability of nuclear energy in Turkey," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(1), pages 160-177, February.
    13. Child, Michael & Breyer, Christian, 2016. "Vision and initial feasibility analysis of a recarbonised Finnish energy system for 2050," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 517-536.
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    15. Neumann, Anne & Sorge, Lars & von Hirschhausen, Christian & Wealer, Ben, 2020. "Democratic quality and nuclear power: Reviewing the global determinants for the introduction of nuclear energy in 166 countries," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 63.

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