2007 Volume 25, No. 2
Nuclear energy risks and benefits
in perspective
Energy demand, rising prices, security of
supply, climate change... these are major
issues facing today’s energy policy makers.
In response, the NEA has recently
published a study on Risks and Benefits of
Nuclear Energy in order to provide these
policy makers with authoritative information
in support of their decision making.
The study has also provided much of the
basis for this article.
The possibility of recycling fuel is a very attractive – and nearly unique – feature of nuclear energy systems. The fissile and fertile materials contained in spent nuclear fuels and enrichment plant tails,
for example, may be retrieved and re-used to provide additional energy. Doing so also reduces the amount and radiotoxicity of waste that will ultimately need to be sent to repositories.
2007 Volume 25, No. 1
Innovation in nuclear technology
Innovation has been a driving force for the success of nuclear energy and remains essential for its future. For the continued safe and economically effective operation and maintenance of existing nuclear systems, and to meet the goals set out by projects aiming at designing and implementing advanced systems for the future, effi cient innovation systems are needed. Consequently, analysing innovation systems is essential to understand their characteristics and enhance their performance in the nuclear sector
The radiological protection world is roughly divided into two camps when it comes to the issue of environmental protection: those who believe that nothing more need be done in terms of radiological protection of the environment and those who do. Yet both camps can more or less agree that the environment is well-protected, so why all the debate?