17th Pacific Basin Nuclear Conference
Cancun, 2010

Nuclear Energy Challenges in this Century

The past fifty years have witnessed the advent of a new energy source and the beginning of yet another in the series of energy-use transitions that have marked our history since the start of our technological development. Each of these transitions has been accompanied by adaptive challenges. Each unique set of challenges has been met. Today the world faces the need for another transition. This paper outlines some of the associated challenges that lie ahead of us all, as we adapt to this new and exciting environment. The first step in defining the challenges ahead is to make some form of prediction of the future energy supply and demand during the period. Herein, the future up to 2010 is presumed to include two major events -- first, a decline in the availability and a rise in price of petroleum, and second a need to reduce greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Both of these events are taken to be imminent. Added to these expected events is the assumption that the total of wind, solar, and other such energy sources will be able to contribute, but only in a relatively small way, to the provision of needed energy to our ever-expanding human population.

Slide Show - Energy Challenges in this Century

Annual conference, May 24, 2010.

"Nuclear Energy in this Century, A Bird in the Hand"

This presentation reviews the past half-century of nuclear energy from one person’s point of view, fully recognizing likely errors in fact and perception. It also takes a look at the coming 50 years of our enterprise. The future will demand a lot from nuclear technology, given the decline in the availability of cheap fossil fuels and the expected rising need for energy. We can supply safe and reliable energy for thousands of years, if such is necessary. Uncertainty remains in the short term regarding the support of the people and of the governments who serve them.

Slide show, "Is There Enough Nuclear Fuel?

 

The ocean is the ULTIMATE closing argument against the naysayers who claim that we'll soon run out of uranium. The fact that with the IFR we can live essentially forever (God Willing) without this source is really unimportant.

If the Japanese are concerned about pumping power to move seawater past their adsorbers, a fast reactor does that free gratis -- at least twice as much dissolved uranium passes through the CCW in a year as is required to keep the plant running. Screens can be placed downstream, and that is the end of the problem of energy supply to the world -- forever, Amen.

Even if the recovered uranium were priced at half the price of gold, this would not change the price of electricity even by one cent per kwh if fast reactors are used. As a wrap-up, the earth's rivers continuously replenish the ocean's uranium - and the ocean bottom does the same by leaching from the rock.

D.A. Meneley, Engineer Emeritus
Atomic Energy of Canada Limited

Abstract

We can expect to see the peak of world oil production very soon.  Some say that we can see that peak now in our rear-view mirrors as we drive into an oil-poor future.  Natural gas already is in short supply in North America.  Nuclear energy must make up the lion’s share of the world’s energy deficit.