Life cycle assessment of the European pressurized reactor and the influence of different fuel cycle strategies

Abstract

This article presents a life cycle assessment (LCA) of electricity generated by the European pressurized reactor (EPR), a Generation III (Gen III) nuclear reactor concept. The focus of the LCA is on the potential locations in Switzerland and France in the year 2030. Environmental burdens from the EPR are also compared to those from current pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology in Switzerland. The entire fuel cycle is analysed and includes improved modelling of natural uranium mining. The indicators employed in the impact assessment characterize a broad range of burdens to the environment and human health at both the global and the regional/local level and includes an analysis on the basis of external costs. The LCA shows a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by around just 7 per cent for the EPR in Switzerland in 2030 compared to the current PWR cycle emitting just above 5 g CO2-eq/kWh. Due to differences in cooling strategies, which cause slightly different output capacities, the French EPR is expected to achieve marginally better reductions of almost 16 per cent. The processing of natural uranium to yellowcake was shown to be the stage in the nuclear fuel cycle having the highest burdens and potential impacts across a majority of indicators, accounting for between 25 per cent and 60 per cent of burdens and potential impacts. External costs of normal operation are shown to be around just 2 per cent of estimated internal (production) costs and similar to those of hydro and offshore wind. The potential impacts due to nuclear-related accidents were not considered.