OECD Nuclear Energy Agency / L'Agence pour l'énergie nucléaire OECD-OCDE
 
NEA News
 
NEA News in English Version française
NEA News is the professional journal of the NEA. It features articles on the latest nuclear energy issues concerning the economic and technical aspects of the nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear safety and regulation, radioactive waste management, radiological protection, nuclear science and nuclear legislation. Each issue provides facts and opinions on nuclear energy, an update of NEA activities, and a brief presentation of new NEA publications and other NEA news.

2009 Volume 27, No. 2

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Editorial - Luis E. Echávarri, NEA Director-General
Facts and opinions
 

The financing of nuclear power plants
Existing nuclear generating capacity plays an important role in providing secure, economic and low-carbon electricity supplies in many OECD countries. At the same time, there is increasing recognition that an expansion of nuclear power could play a valuable role in reducing future carbon dioxide emissions. However, in recent years only a handful of new nuclear power plants (NPPs) have been built in just a few OECD countries. An important reason for this is the challenges associated with financing the construction of new NPPs.

  Work management to optimise occupational radiological protection
Occupational exposures at nuclear power plants worldwide have steadily decreased since the early 1990s. Regulatory pressures, technological advances, improved plant designs and operational procedures, “as low as reasonably achievable” (ALARA) culture and information exchange have contributed to this downward trend. However, with the continued ageing and possible life extensions of nuclear power plants, ongoing economic pressures, regulatory, social and political evolutions, and the potential of new nuclear build, the task of ensuring that occupational exposures are kept as low as reasonably achievable continues to present challenges to radiological protection professionals.
NEA updates
  Cost estimation for decommissioning: a review of current practice
  Partnering with stakeholders in radioactive waste management
  MDEP: consolidation and expansion
  A legislative framework for the safety of nuclear installations in the European Union
News briefs
  NEA activities on medical isotope supply issues
  Nuclear power in NEA member countries
New publications
  Catalogue of new NEA publications

2009 Volume 27

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Editorial - Luis E. Echávarri, NEA Director-General
Facts and opinions
 

Nuclear power and the public
Issues such as climate change, energy security and the longer-term availability of fossil fuels are causing many governments to reconsider their national energy policies. Promotion of renewable energy sources is often a first policy response but, increasingly, it is being recognised that renewable sources may only provide a partial solution, especially in countries where heavy industry or large cities make intense demands on electricity supply.

  Science and values in radiological protection
The NEA Committee on Radiation Protection and Public Health (CRPPH) has been investigating the involvement of stakeholders in decision-aiding and decision-making processes for over a decade. A key conclusion that has resulted from this work is that while the vast majority of radiological protection decisions are informed by science, most decisions concerning public health and safety, or environmental protection, are taken based on broader value-judgement grounds.
NEA updates
  Applying decommissioning experience to the design and operation of new nuclear power plants
  Ageing management
  The Forum on Stakeholder Confidence
News briefs
  The RWMC Regulators’ Forum
  Calculating the cost of generating
electricity: Which role for nuclear?
  NEA joint projects
  Obituaries: Mr. Howard K. Shapar, Dr. Kunihiko Uematsu
New publications
  Catalogue of new NEA publications

2008 Volume 26

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Editorial - Luis E. Echávarri, NEA Director-General
Facts and opinions
 

Nuclear Energy Outlook 2008 - Executive summary
To celebrate its 50th Anniversary, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency launched its first Nuclear Energy Outlook (NEO). It responds to the changing dynamics and renewed interest in nuclear energy and arrives at a moment when energy security, climate change and the cost of energy have become priorities in both short-term and long-term energy policies.

  Market competition in the nuclear industry
The nuclear industry provides a wide variety of specialised equipment and services to support the construction and operation of nuclear power plants (NPPs). This includes the supply of NPPs themselves, the range of materials and services required in the nuclear fuel cycle, and the services and equipment needed for maintenance and upgrading. The markets to provide these have changed substantially as they have evolved from the government-led early stages of the nuclear industry to predominantly competitive, commercial markets today.
  Challenges in the field of materials science
The development of innovative thermonuclear fusion and nuclear fission reactors critically depends on the availability of not only nuclear fuels but also advanced structural and functional materials systems. These have to withstand extreme conditions: high temperatures, intense neutron irradiation, and strongly corrosive environments, in combination with complex loading states and cyclic loading histories. The challenges in the field of nuclear materials range from operation in critical conditions to compliance with the highest levels of safety and protection, while giving due regard to decommissioning, dismantling and waste processing issues.
NEA updates
  Geological disposal of radioactive waste: records, markers and people
  International operating experience
  Nuclear regulatory communication with the public: 10 years of progress
News briefs
  Legislative update: Turkey
  Phase IV of the TDB project
  Uranium: Resources, Production and Demand
New publications
  Catalogue of new NEA publications
 

2007 Volume 25, No. 2

NEA News Vol 25 No 1

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complete issue (pdf format,
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Editorial - Luis E. Echávarri, NEA Director-General
Facts and opinions
 

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.

  Management of recyclable fissile and fertile materials
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.
NEA updates
  Geological disposal: key observations and lessons learnt
  The impact of financing schemes and income taxes on electricity generation costs
  Radiological protection at the NEA: 50 years and thriving
  The International School of Nuclear Law
  International Standard Problem ISP-47 on Containment Thermal-hydraulics
News briefs
  Update on the Generation IV International Forum
  NEA joint projects
  Progress in the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP)
New publications
  Catalogue of new NEA publications
   
 
Previous editions
Last reviewed: 22 January 2010

 

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