Nuclear Power Generation as a Reasonable Option for Energy Strategies

Abstract

Main challenge of the 21st century is to find the ways of sustainable development for the world’s growing population. The development of world economy, the energy need of growing population in developing countries, rapid increase of consumption of emerging economies result in 40% increase of energy consumption by 2030, which reflects both the impact of the recent economic crisis and of new government policies introduced over the last years (IEA, 2009). Increase of energy consumption, which is essential for global development, affects the environment and the climate irreversibly and adversely. The World Energy Outlook (IAEA, 2009) sets out a timetable of actions needed to limit the long-term concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to 450 parts per million of carbondioxide equivalent and to keep the global temperature rise to around 2° Celsius. This goal might be achieved by enormous investments into energy sector, by increasing the effectiveness of energy utilisation and deployment of emission-free technologies, using of renewable and nuclear energy. Because of the complexity of the issue complex energy strategies have to be developed on country, region and global level. The global concern is expressed in the establishment of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which is the international environmental treaty aimed at fighting global warming. The global policy is expressed in Kyoto Protocol, (UNFCCC, 1998) continuation of which is endorsed by the Copenhagen Accord in 2009, (UNFCCC, 2009). The European Union is committed to achieve at least a 20% reduction of greenhouse-gas emission by 2020, while the primary energy use should be decreased by 20% and utilisation of renewable energy sources increased also by 20%, (European Commission, 2007). Nuclear power generation is accepted by the EU policy as one of lowemission technologies. The US energy policy is also targeted on reduction of greenhouse gas emission and emphasises the role of nuclear energy, see (DoE EIA, 2009). China and the emerging economies are also intending to develop nuclear power generation for covering the rapidly growing needs of their economy. Although growing energy consumption drives the development of these countries, the environmental and climate protection goals are also respected, (DoE EIA, 2009). Energy import dependence and security of the supply became also a serous issue for many countries and regions. In case of European Union the reliance 1