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Nuclear energy and waste production (ENER 013) - Assessment published Apr 2012
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The amount of high level nuclear waste from nuclear electricity production continues to accumulate. In 2009, 34,824 tonnes of heavy metals contained in high level nuclear waste was in storage, up 4.7% since 2008. The annual quantity of spent fuel was approximately 1,828 tonnes of heavy metals in 2009. However, there is a decreasing trend in the annual quantity of spent fuel arisings since 1990. On the other hand, the amount of electricity produced from nuclear power has increased by 12.5% over the period 1990 to 2009 (see ENER27). This decoupling between electricity production and generation of radioactive waste can be explained by the fact that fuel rods are replaced gradually as well as by improvements in fuel burnup and plant efficiency [1] .
[1] Energy efficiency is calculated using an efficiney coefficient of 33% for all reactors (the efficiency of a particular reactor type – CANDU) since all reactors types are slightly different. However overtime there is a trend towards more efficient reactors in Europe, such as those with breeder reactors/fuel enrichment. However, once a reactor is built, the efficiency assumed is fixed at 33%.
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Nuclear energy and waste production
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Availability improvements in nuclear power plants in Europe
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Last three years Capability Factor over 2008-2010. The indicator shows the ratio of the available energy generation over a given time period to the reference energy generation over the same time period, expressed as a percentage. Both of these energy generation terms are determined relative to reference ambient conditions. The reference energy generation is the energy that could be produced if the unit were operated continuously at full power under reference ambient conditions. The available energy generation is the energy that could have been produced under reference ambient conditions considering only limitations within control of plant management, i.e. plant equipment and personnel performance, and work control.
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Nuclear energy and waste production (ENER 013) - Assessment DRAFT created Aug 2011
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The amount of high level nuclear waste from nuclear electricity
production continues to accumulate. In 2008, 44,102 tonnes of heavy metals
contained in high level nuclear waste was in storage, up 34.1% since 2006. The
annual quantity of spent fuel was approximately 2,328 [1]
tonnes of heavy metals in 2008, relatively stable since 1990. On the other
hand, the amount of electricity produced from nuclear power increased by 38.4%
over the same period reference to the relative ENER indicator. This partial
decoupling between electricity production and generation of radioactive waste
can be explained by the fact that fuel rods are replaced gradually as well as
by recent improvements in fuel burnup, plant efficiency and increased plant
availability
[1] Estimates are provisional and are based on NEA (2009) - Nuclear Energy Data
2009
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Nuclear energy and waste production
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Availability improvements in nuclear power plants in Europe
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Since very few new nuclear power plants have come online since 1990 and several plants in UK, Lithuania, Germany, Sweden, Slovakia and Bulgaria have been shut down (WNA, 2009), these trends illustrate increased plant availability in the past decades (see Figure 4 below) and increases in net plant electric efficiency from app. 32% to app. 35% (WNA, 2003).
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Nuclear accident in Japan: where to get up-to-date information
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Following the massive earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011, a number of explosions and fires took place at the reactor buildings of Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Japan declared a state of alert and reported leaks of radioactive material. Given the magnitude and the global dimension of the disaster, Japanese authorities and the international community are following the situation very closely. A series of sources provide the public with up-to-date information on the accident's possible impacts on Europe's environment as well as radiation measurements across Europe.
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Deposition from Chernobyl in Europe
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Total caesium-137 (nuclear weapons test, Chernobyl, ...)
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Annual quantities of spent nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants in the EU, 1990-2003
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The vast majority of highly radioactive waste consists of spent fuel and spent fuel reprocessing wastes
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