| ID | 106337 |
| Title Proper | Climate change, nuclear power, and nuclear proliferation |
| Other Title Information | magnitude matters |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Goldston, Robert J |
| Publication | 2011. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Integrated energy, environment, and economics modeling suggests that worldwide electrical energy use will increase to 12 TWe in 2100. Due to limitations of other low-carbon energy sources, nuclear power may be required to provide 30% of world electrical energy by 2100. Calculations of the associated stocks and flows of uranium, plutonium, and minor actinides indicate that the proliferation risks at mid-century, using current light-water reactor technology, are daunting. There are institutional arrangements that may be able to provide an acceptable level of risk mitigation, but they will be difficult to implement. If a transition is begun to fast-spectrum reactors at mid-century, the global nuclear proliferation risks become much greater by 2100, and more resistant to mitigation. Fusion energy, if successfully demonstrated to be economically competitive, would provide a source of nuclear power with much lower proliferation risks than fission. |
| `In' analytical Note | Science and Global Security Vol. 19, No. 2; May-Aug 2011: p.130-165 |
| Journal Source | Science and Global Security Vol. 19, No. 2; May-Aug 2011: p.130-165 |
| Key Words | Climate Change ; Nuclear Power ; Nuclear Proliferation ; Environment ; Fusion Energy ; Light - Water Reactor Technology |