Abstract
The future of nuclear energy is an important issue for many countries intending to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and achieve the reduction targets for green house gas (GHG) emissions. As of June, 2008, there were 439 operating nuclear reactors with a total generating capacity of 372 GWe and 42 power reactors under construction in 15 countries. In the USA, a total of 104 nuclear reactors currently produce 20% of the electricity and account for at least 70% of all GHG-free electricity generation. Their performance has been improving steadily over the past 20 years and has now reached 90% capacity factor. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 authorized future nuclear R&D and provided incentives for construction of new nuclear plants. As a result, there are now 17 COL applications for construction of as many as 26 new reactors in the USA. This paper summarizes some of the opportunities, challenges and future research needs for achieving and sustaining nuclear renaissance in the USA.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Nuclear News (2009) American Nuclear Society, January, 2009, p. 44
Nuclear Energy Agency (2008) Nuclear energy outlook 2008. OECD, Washington, DC, ISBN: 9789264054103
Nuclear News (2009) American Nuclear Society, May, 2009, p. 33
Nuclear News (2009) American Nuclear Society, January, 2009, pp. 35–36
Nuclear News (2009) American Nuclear Society, June, 2009, p. 28
US Department of Energy (2008) Required assets for a nuclear energy applied R&D program. Draft Report by Idaho National Laboratory (September, 2008)
Banerjee S, Abdullahi Z (2009) Thermal and hydraulic issues related to light water reactors. A Keynote paper to be presented at the 13th International Topical Meeting on Nuclear Reactor Thermal Hydraulics (NURETH-13), Sept. 27 – Oct. 2, 2009, Kanazawa, Japan
Nuclear News (2009) American Nuclear Society, July, 2009, pp. 93–94
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer
About this paper
Cite this paper
Kawaji, M., Banerjee, S. (2010). Renaissance of Nuclear Energy in the USA: Opportunities, Challenges and Future Research Needs. In: Yao, T. (eds) Zero-Carbon Energy Kyoto 2009. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-99779-5_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-99779-5_2
Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo
Print ISBN: 978-4-431-99778-8
Online ISBN: 978-4-431-99779-5
eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)