Despite nuclear power offering a clean, reliable source of energy, sub-optimal finances and devastating accidents have made many sceptical of the benefits of the energy source. JP Casey speaks to Shaun Burnie, senior nuclear specialist at Greenpeace Germany to learn about the organisation’s long-standing opposition to nuclear power, and whether the power source could play a role in the world’s future energy mix. Nuclear reactor designs in global operation have both design flaws and ageing-related safety issues that threaten a major nuclear accident. The costs of a severe nuclear accident are enormous. The most credible cost estimate for the Fukushima Daiichi accident now range from JPY35-80tn, or $320-740bn. But this is not the worst case scenario. The French IRSN conducted an assessment of the range of costs of a severe accident at the Dampierre nuclear plant. In the best-case scenario, costs came to €760bn, more than a third of France’s GDP. At the other end of the spectrum: €5.8tn or three times France’s GDP.
Power Technology 12th Aug 2019 read more »
