RE: Nuclear Power vs CO2

[Christoph_Hofmeyr/CNS1@cns.co.za]

RADSAFERS,
In response to Al Tschaeche, R Weiner, B Cohen, Mr Jo and others:  The
question of CO2 production in the nuclear cycle and versus the nuclear
cycle can be assessed in terms of the energy required in the production and
disposal of nuclear fuel (starting with the mining and beneficiation of the
ore, through enrichment, fuel production, plant construction and operation,
to used fuel management), compared with the useable energy content.  I
remember a Dutch uranium enrichment expert recounting how he had made
calculations to quantitatively counter allegations by the Greens that the
nuclear fuel cycle is not exothermic in total (i.e. it purportedly consumed
more energy than it produced!).  I must add that this was before the bulk
of the French investment in nuclear power, which stands as a rather
compelling counter-argument.  The expert's result, if I remember correctly:
seen globally, the energy cost to produce nuclear power was only about 5 to
10 % of the energy output (sorry, no hard reference).  The fossil
(CO2-producing) fraction would depend on the energy-mix used in different
processes, which can be distributed between different regions.  Assuming
electricity as the main energy source and neglecting different utilisation
efficiencies, the CO2 produced in the nuclear cycle per kWh would then be
capped at about 10% of the CO2 production which would result from pure
fossil fuel electric power generation.  It can be appreciably less where
the nuclear component of the energy mix is significant (e.g. in France).
My personal opinion.
Chris Hofmeyr
chofmeyr@cns.co.za



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