Nuclear power as a clean energy

By Indeewara Thilakarathne

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Sri Lanka could posses NPS’s in 10-15 years - Dr. W. Abeywickreme, Chairman Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka :

Here in an interview with ‘Sunday Observer’ Dr. W. Abeywickreme, Chairman Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka explores the possibility of setting up Nuclear Power Stations (NPS’s) in Sri Lanka as nuclear power is a clean energy.

Though the initial cost is higher than that of a coal power station, operational and maintenance cost is very low compared to coal plants and carbon emission is zero.

He pointed out if Sri Lanka has taken a policy decision now, the country can posses NPS’s in 8-10 years time with the technical assistance from IAEA (International Atomic Energy Authority).

“If Sri Lanka has taken a policy decision today, Sri Lanka could posses NPS’s within 8-10 years.

Though a policy decision has not yet been taken to construct NPS, an important initiative has been taken to explore the possibility of using nuclear power for power generation. Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana has taken an interest in this regard.

This is an important initiative considering the fact that nuclear option has not been included in action plan for the next fifteen years,” said Dr. W. Abeywickreme, Chairman Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka.

Dr. Abeywickreme was of the view that a policy decision was made with regard to the establishment of NPS’s in Sri Lanka, technical expertise can be obtained from IAEA and training of personnel can be done. So far the biggest hurdle in the setting up of NPS in Sri Lanka is until recently nuclear option has not been considered as an option.

A complex process

Though nuclear seems to be an immediate option, setting up of NPS is a complex process which consumes considerable time. The NPP (Nuclear Power Planning) is to be done. According to Dr. Abeywickreme, at present, countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Thailand, China and Malaysia have taken steps to implement NPP projects.

In 1980s the IAEA conducted a programme for Nuclear Power Planning and a decision was taken to train technical staff. The initial step was to train technical person from the University of Moratuwa in USA up to the PhD level in Nuclear Power Engineering with a view to introducing Nuclear Power Planning to the Engineering syllabus of the campus.

IAEA also assisted the University of Peradeniya to initiate a programme of study in the discipline of Nuclear Neutron-Physics.

However, those initial ground work for setting up of NPS have not been followed up.

Against the backdrop of rising oil prices and environment concerns, focus has, once again, turned on to nuclear as a clean energy with zero carbon emission.

Currently the national grid with about 2000 megawatts and though it is a sufficient the base-load requirements for a NPS, Electricity Board opted for coal power plants. In order to run a NPS, it is required that the country should have a minimum base-load capacity in constant operation and the available feasible nuclear power plant should match that base-load.

However the present policy of the Electricity Board is to go for coal power plants for the base-load management. This has been the strategy adapted by Electricity Board till 2020.

Compared to Sri Lanka, India is ahead in its nuclear planning and has already been planned to set up a NPS in Pudenkulam which is close to Sri Lanka.

Public Acceptance

“As public acceptance and awareness on nuclear power is vital for future prospects of using nuclear power in Sri Lanka, Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka has initiated Young Nuclear Scientists’ Forum (YNSF) with the aim of attracting young generation (members below 37 years) specially O/L and A/L students and University students. It is an exercise in raising public awareness on nuclear power.

We will also launch public awareness programme on July 4, 2008 at the Public Library auditorium on the use of nuclear energy in Sri Lanka “says Dr. Abeywickreme emphasizing the fact that public awareness on nuclear energy and acceptance of it as clean energy is vital for wide use of nuclear power in Sri Lanka for power generation.

Demonizing nuclear power especially after the Chernobyl disaster has over the years created a negative perception of nuclear power.

However, compared to coal power which incurs considerable cost of purchasing, storing, transporting and loading and unloading, nuclear energy is emission free and the technology can be applied in many other areas such as Nuclear medicine (including X-rays, isotope production, cancer-treating chemicals and non invasive medical procedures), Food Irradiation (irradiated food ensure people receiving balance, healthy and wholesome diet) and Waste Management (safely storing radio-active waste from hospitals, industries and power stations).

One of the principle advantages of nuclear power is the substantial contribution it makes in reducing CO2 emission.

Site selection

If a policy decision has been taken to set up a NPS in Sri Lanka, the primary consideration should be the selection of a site for the plant. AEA is of the view that an appropriate site would be set up in an island like Mannar or Delft considering the crucial factors such as wastes disposal system and public acceptance.

“Another vital factor in setting up a NPS in Sri Lanka is the availability of uranium or thorium. Once the plant commenced operation, there will be enough uranium or thorium resources to sustain the operation in the world,” said Dr. Abeywickreme.

Although thirty percent of world’s thorium resources are concentrated in South Asian region (Sri Lanka and India), thorium resources have not been tapped for power generation.

India has planned to use thorium for its second generation of NPS and the available resources are sufficient in India to propel to industrial heights. Sri Lanka’s thorium resources are believed to be deposited in the coastal line from Moratuwa to Kalutara and in the areas like Kerawala Pitiya and Buththala.

“In fact, we had an initial discussion with the chairman of Geological and Mine Bureau on the exploration of thorium in Sri Lanka.

At least, if a policy decision is taken at this juncture, we can accelerate our programme like the one which is looking into the availability of thorium in Sri Lanka.

It is a long term process that will take 10-15 years” said Dr. Abeywickreme.

Currently Atomic Energy Authority of Sri Lanka provides host of services including Non Destructive Testing (NDT) Services, NTD training services, analytical services and domestic calibration services.

The world at a glance

The present situation in nuclear power generation throughout the world is extremely varied.

In the 30 countries that have nuclear power generation capacity, the percentage of electricity coming from nuclear reactors ranges from 78% in France to just 2% in China.All told, as of March 2008, there are 439 nuclear power plants around the world, while 35 more are under construction. The USA has the most with 104, France is next with 59, then Japan with 55 and Russia has 31 and seven more under construction.

The expansion in nuclear power generation is centered in Asia. A total of 20 of the 35 plants under construction are in Asia, while 28 of the last 39 plants connected to the grid are also in Asia.

Asia: Expanding Scene

But what is the outlook for nuclear power generation in individual countries around the world?

Our overview starts with the countries of Asia, the world’s region where most of the expansion is taking place.

India

India gets less than 3% of its electricity from nuclear, but it is, along with China and Russia, one of the leaders in current new construction, boasting six of the world’s 35 reactors under construction.

India’s future plans, however, are even more impressive: an eight-fold increase by 2022 to 10% of the electricity supply and an overall 70-fold increase to 2052 to 26%. A 70-fold increase figure certainly sounds remarkable, but it works out to be an average growth rate of 9.5% per year, which is a bit less than the average global nuclear growth from 1970 through 2002. So it is hardly unprecedented.

China

China, like India, faces a steep growth in energy demand and is trying to expand its generating capacity using all possible energy sources, including nuclear power. China has six reactors under construction and plans nearly a five-fold expansion by 2020.

However, because the country’s energy demand is growing so fast, that would still amount to only 4% of electricity generated by then. Looking ahead, China is a potential supplier of technology and services, particularly in Asia.

Japan

Moving across the Sea is Japan, a country with 55 reactors, one more under construction and plans to increase nuclear power’s share of electricity from 30% in 2006 to over 40% before 2020.

Republic of Korea

Another Asian country with a significant commitment to nuclear technology is South Korea, which has 20 reactors in operation and three more under construction. Nuclear power already supplies nearly 40% of South Korea’s electricity.

(Source IAEA)