NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION ALTERNATIVE FOR A

CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE

Elena Bobric^*, Cristina Bucur, Ion Popescu, Vasile Simionov

Health Physics Department,Cernavoda NPP – Romania

 No. 2, Medgidiei Str. Cernavoda 905200, Romania,

phone: 4-0241-239-340; fax: 4-0241-239-929

ABSTRACT

World Energy Council stated that is huge scope to raise the efficiency in which energy is provided. Over 60% of primary energy is, in effect, wasted. At present 63% of the world’s electricity comes from thermal power (coal, oil and gas) 19% from hydro, 17% from nuclear, 0.5% from geothermal and 0.1% from solar, wind and biomass. Nuclear power almost completely avoids all the problems associated with fossil fuels: no greenhouse effect, no acid rain, no air pollution with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, no oil spills etc. Its impact on health and environment is related to radiation and is relatively minor. Without pretending a high accuracy of numbers, if the Romanian nuclear power reactors will be replaced by a coal plant of equivalent capacity, about 10 millions tons of CO₂ and large quantities of associated sulfur and nitrous oxides, would be discharged to the atmosphere each year. However the acceptance of nuclear power is largely and emotional issue. In all activities in which nuclear industry is involved, it takes care of the environment. Nuclear energy can have an important contribution for the future of mankind regarding the sustainable supply of energy. Security problems are universal nuclear technology management is not risk free. The nuclear industry acknowledges responsibilities and has a unique security culture. Security is not only a technical problem, but also an emotional one.

Based on the environmental monitoring program this paper tries to demonstrate that the routine radioactive emissions of Cernavoda NPP, which are limited by National Competent Authority, gives an insignificant risk increase. For assessing the environmental impacts and damage costs from exposure, IAEA’s Model SIMPACTS. SIMPACT is powerful and convenient tool for evaluating external costs of human health and environmental impacts for nuclear power and other energy sources. 

                KEYWORDS: nuclear energy alternative.