Advanced nuclear to slash emissions

12 March 2008

A Japanese plan to cut global greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2050 has concluded that advanced nuclear power could contribute 12% to that aim.

 

A fast breeder reactor concept (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries)

A committee established by the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry (Meti) developed the plan, called Cool Earth 50, following a May 2007 announcement by then prime minister Shinzo Abe. The plan relies on the development of innovative technologies to reduce global emissions by 40 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO₂-eq) each year by 2050.

 

Cool Earth 50 includes a roadmap giving priority to 21 technologies with potential to contribute to emissions cuts in sectors including power generation and transmission, industry, household and transportation. In the power generation and transmission sector, advanced nuclear power was selected alongside innovative solar, high-efficiency natural gas, high-efficiency coal, carbon capture and storage and superconducting power transmission.

 

The committee's analysis showed that advanced nuclear power could cut global emissions by 12%, some 9.6 billion tons of CO₂-eq each year. Based on avoiding emissions from coal-fired generation, reaching this target would require around 1500 new nuclear power reactors (assuming a standard size of 1000 MWe) in addition to the 372 GWe currently operating. Avoiding emissions from a mix of coal and gas would require even more new nuclear power capacity.

 

High-efficiency coal and gas, combined with carbon capture and storage could contribute another 12% and innovative solar could add 7%. Meti intends to present the plan widely to decision-makers in energy policy and climate change.

 

Atoms in Japan reported that the committee said nuclear power would provide the electricity required for stable economic growth while cutting emissions at the same time. It added that new reactors delevoped from today's mainstream light-water models should be in operation by 2050, with further refined safety, economy and reliability.

 

Abe's original announcement of the project placed nuclear power as an element in Japan's long-term strategy. He said when announcing Cool Earth 50: "We will also enhance the reliability and safety of nuclear energy, and develop advanced nuclear power generation technologies, such as high-temperature gas-cooled reactors and small reactors, so that safe and peaceful use of nuclear power will be expanded."

 

It is a longstanding goal of Japanese planners to use nuclear energy as the backbone of electricity supply and begin using fast reactors from around 2040. The committee said that Japan should continue to cooperate internationally in their development so that international standards could be developed for advanced nuclear reactors.

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