ThorEA - Towards an Alternative Nuclear Future.pdf

Chapter 1: Thorium-fuelled ADSRs and their potential UK and global impact continued
It should be noted that export sales would form a significant
component of any commercial proposition. However, in the
Potential Expansion scenario, export to non-OECD nations
will predominate, yet the export of conventional nuclear
power is expected to be limited to those countries with
minimal proliferation risks, well established nuclear power
infrastructure and tight security.
There is an additional requirement for the technology offered
to developing countries to be of the appropriate scale; too
small and the contribution to the electricity demand is too
little to justify the investment of effort and money; too large
and the stability of the existing grid is threatened.
Thorium-fuelled ADSRs, when configured appropriately,
overcome these issues. The proliferation resistance and safe
sub-critical operation of these systems significantly increases
the number of countries to which export is possible. The
600MWe ADSR used as an illustration above is an entirely
realistic proposition for export to and deployment in both fully
industrialised nations, and those with weaker infrastructure.
Moreover, a detailed cost analysis indicates that the lifetime
costs of a thorium fuelled ADSR reactor for power generation
would be comparable to those of conventional power systems
(Appendix VIII).
During the 1980s a new nuclear power station came on line
every 17 days. Over the next three decades demand will be
considerably higher. It is precisely this demand into which
a thorium-fuelled ADSR industry would tap.
1.6 The consequences of the UK seizing global
leadership in thorium-fuelled ADSR technology
Should the UK choose now to develop global leadership
in thorium-fuelled ADSR technology, a not unimaginable
scenario for the year 2040 could be as follows:
A rejuvenated nuclear industry is generating 40% of UK
electricity. This contribution, combined with renewables and
consumption reduction efforts have, much to the surprise of
many, enabled CO2 reduction targets to be hit. This has given the
UK considerable credibility at the international climate change
negotiating table, where it is pressing for tougher targets.
16 Towards an Alternative Nuclear Future
While there are obvious environmental benefits of deeper cuts
in CO2, Britain has a further incentive: as the world leader in the
thorium-fuelled ADSR industry – the safest, most proliferationresistant,
waste-minimising nuclear power technology – further
cuts equate to larger markets for IP, technology know-how, and
services. From the successful development of reliable off-theshelf
10MW accelerators and other related technologies in the
period 2010-2020 the UK has been able to build a significant
ADSR industry. The technical expertise, manufacturing,
licensing of IP and support industries are contributing to GDP
growth and generating £multi-bn export revenue p.a. for UK
plc. Over 30,000 people are directly employed in the industry.
The growth in clean indigenous power generation has facilitated
the shift to electric vehicles resulting in a dramatic improvement
in urban air quality and traffic noise. Spin-offs from the
development of various related technologies have enabled
further exploitation of IP, both in the UK and overseas. Imports of
oil and gas have fallen – the ‘repatriation of the power pound’ as
the Daily Mail likes to refer to it.
The growth of the UK’s nuclear industry has also contributed to
the re-vitalisation of regional economies. The NW has benefited
from the research and development efforts of the previous
thirty years. The Sellafield site has consolidated its position
as a global centre of excellence for re-processing.
British industry and consumers are protected from the worst
fluctuations in oil and gas prices, and are insulated to some
degree from the ever-increasing price of carbon. A further bonus
is that UK business benefits from lower energy prices making it
more competitive in the global marketplace.
Thorium-fuelled ADSRs have become for many ‘the acceptable
face of nuclear’.
The question is not whether
the UK can afford to invest
in thorium-fuelled ADSR
technology, but whether it
can afford not to.