Nuclear Renaissance: Is Nuclear power the answer to energy security and climate change concerns?
Wednesday 2nd July, 2008
16:00 GMT / 11:00 EDT
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Nuclear power has been one of the most contentious energy technologies over the past three decades. Disputes over radioactive waste disposal, potential accident risks, transport of materials, routine emissions and weapons proliferation risks have been commonplace, as have arguments over the prospective costs of nuclear power compared to alternatives.
More recently, nuclear power has seen renewed policy interest, bolstered by high fossil energy prices and supply concerns, rising greenhouse gas emissions and differences within the once-monolithic environmental lobby.
This raises a number of key questions:
- As we try to transition away from a fossil-fueled to a low-carbon economy, can public concerns over nuclear energy be allayed?
- Are the risks associated with radiation are acceptable?
- Will expansion of the use of various nuclear technologies also lead to a greater risk of nuclear weapons proliferation or nuclear terrorism?
- Can the nuclear industry compete on cost even in a high-energy price environment?
- Can nuclear contribute to the solution to what is seen as a growing shortage of liquid transport fuels, e.g. by powering electric vehicles?
- How do the risks posed by other technologies and their outcomes compare with the risks posed by nuclear energy?
- Can micropower and other clean energy technologies compete with nuclear energy?
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