atw - International Journal for Nuclear Power | 11/12.2019

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atw Vol. 64 (2019) | Issue 11/12 ı November/December 562 NUCLEAR TODAY John Shepherd is a freelance journalist and communications consultant who has covered the nuclear industry for the past 20 years and is currently editor-in-chief of UK-based Energy Storage Publishing. Sources World Nuclear Association https://cutt.ly/weEfVJC IEA Sweden report https://cutt.ly/TeEfZIs Cryospheric Sciences Division blog https://cutt.ly/1eEfLyD Taking a Leaf out of Greta’s Climate Change Book The media loves a ‘warrior underdog’ and so journalists around the world have largely fallen in love with Swedish eco champion Greta Thunberg. The diminutive teenager has captured the imagination of a new generation of environmental activists since she burst onto the international scene around a year ago, when she protested on school days outside the Swedish parliament. She said her school strike was to draw attention to global warming. Her actions caught on and soon led to other students making similar protests. The rest, to coin a phrase, is already modern history. Thunberg has been feted worldwide and she even addressed the 2018 United Nations Climate Change Conference. Whatever one thinks of Thunberg’s approach, it’s hard to deny that she has reignited interest in the climate change debate and raised the political temperature on all sides. So could nuclear’s proponents take a leaf out of the young environmentalist’s book? Earlier this year, a group of reactor physicists, operators and politicians were among those who followed Thunberg’s lead and gathered outside the Swedish parliament to raise awareness of the benefits of nuclear energy. One of the organisers of the ‘Stand up for Nuclear’ event was Swedish Nuclear Society president Marcus Eriksson. He told me that, on the same day of the event, the group published an opinion article in one of Sweden’s major newspapers, Svenska Dagbladet, which explained the country’s energy situation in Sweden, making a parallel to Germany’s energy sector. The Stand up for Nuclear event is an important development in Sweden and one that could and should have wider implications for Europe. Sweden has a chequered past where nuclear is concerned. According to the World Nuclear Association, Sweden generated a combined 156 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2016, of which 63 TWh (40%) was from its eight nuclear power reactors and 62 TWh (40%) from hydro. Wind provided 15.5 TWh (10%), various fossil fuels 2 TWh, and biofuels and waste 13 TWh (8%). Total installed generating capacity at the end of 2016, as recorded by the International Energy Agency‘s (IEA) ‘ Electricity Information 2018’, was 40 gigawatts electric. In 1980, the Swedish government decided to phase out nuclear power but this policy was repealed by lawmakers in June 2010. The country‘s 1997 energy policy had allowed 10 reactor units to operate longer than envisaged by the 1980 phase-out policy. However, the policy also led to the premature closure of a two-unit (1,200 megawattelectric) plant, although some 1,600 MWe was subsequently added in uprates to the remaining 10 units. In 2015, decisions were made to close four older reactors by 2020. A year later, a tax discriminating against nuclear power was abolished. Nuclear’s impact on Sweden’s environmental credentials is impressive. The country has almost fully decarbonised its electricity generation, which the IEA has described as “a feat which is quite unique among the IEA member countries”. In a review of Swedish energy policy published last April, the IEA said the country should assess the contribution of nuclear power over the next 20 years and the impact of further potential early closures on energy security. I have no scientific basis for saying this, only a gut feeling (from reporting on nuclear and the wider energy industry over the past 20 years), that there is often a silent majority who would speak up in favour of nuclear – provided they are given the facts. It appears such a majority could exist in Sweden, if a survey conducted last summer by Novus Opinion is anything to go by. That survey indicated a majority of Swedes now believe that nuclear power could be a means to tackle the climate crisis. Which brings me back to the Stand up for Nuclear event organised in Stockholm. Marcus Eriksson told journalists covering the event: “Two years ago none of the political parties wanted to talk about nuclear power, now everyone is talking about it. It reflects a stronger opinion that the technology has an important role to play to combat climate change.” The Swedish Nuclear Society should be praised for raising awareness of the benefits of nuclear in this way. Every day, when we are out and about, there is a manifestation of some sort or another with campaigners competing for our attention on issues. So why not something that speaks up for nuclear? In these gloomy winter nights, perhaps there is an inbuilt advantage for the nuclear cause in pointing out just how dark and cold many of our communities would be without the benefit of atomic power. As we head into a new year, it’s a good time to start thinking about the resolutions we will make for the months ahead. In addition to resolution favourites, such as going on a diet, or giving up smoking, those involved in the nuclear sector should pledge to make a special effort to stand up for nuclear in 2020. The initial unassuming campaign launched by Greta Thunberg just a year ago is, I suggest, a template for what could be a ‘2020 Vision for Nuclear’ campaign for the year ahead. Perhaps with the advent of social media we’ve forgotten about the impact of ‘grassroots’ campaigning. Social media is of course tremendously valuable in reaching millions. But let’s not forget the impact that can be had by being out on the streets and chatting to passersby about the technology that keeps the lights on and can help clean up our local and global environments. There’s no time like the present to get out there and follow Greta’s footprint. In fact, the beloved Santa Clause, a figure who returns to prominence at this time of the year, could be recruited to underline the importance of the nuclear cause. As the Cryospheric Sciences Division of the European Geosciences Union has pointed out, Santa might well have to think about moving from his fabled home of Lapland because of global warming and polar amplification. In the absence of snow, Santa does have the possibility of converting his sleigh to an all-electric model. But even if there were enough charging points around the globe, they would need reliable supplies of clean electricity, which brings us back to nuclear’s importance for our planet’s energy mix. In wrapping up this festive article, it only remains to wish everyone the compliments of the season and, if not a white Christmas, at least an increasingly green one. Nuclear Today Taking a Leaf out of Greta’s Climate Change Book ı John Shepherd
Kommunikation und Training für Kerntechnik Strahlenschutz – Aktuell In Kooperation mit TÜV SÜD Energietechnik GmbH Baden-Württemberg Seminar: Das neue Strahlenschutzgesetz – Folgen für Recht und Praxis Seminarinhalte 1. Teil | Das neue Strahlenschutzgesetz (StrlSchG) ı Das neue StrlSchG: Historie ı Inkrafttreten des StrlSchG ı Überblick über grundlegende Änderungen ı Die Entwürfe der neuen Strahlenschutzverordnung(en) (soweit zum Seminarzeitpunkt vorliegend) 2. Teil | Auswirkungen auf die betriebliche Praxis ı Genehmigungen, Zuständigkeiten ı Begriff der Expositionssituation (geplant, bestehend, Notfall), NORM ı Aufsichtsprogramm, § 180 StrlSchG, Rechtfertigung ı Notfallpläne ı Änderungen für SSV/SSB ı Dosisgrenzwerte ı Strahlenschutzregister 3. Teil | Strahlenschutz im Back End ı Freigabe und Entsorgung ı Altlasten ı Baustoffe Zielgruppe Die 2-tägige Schulung wendet sich an Fach- und Führungskräfte, an Projekt- und Abteilungsleiter und Experten aus den Bereichen Betrieb, Abfälle, Genehmigung, Strategie und Unternehmens kommunikation sowie an Juristen. Referenten Dr. Maria Poetsch Dr. Christian Raetzke ı Strahlenschutzexpertin bei der TÜV SÜD Energietechnik GmbH Baden-Württemberg ı Rechtsanwalt, Leipzig Wir freuen uns auf Ihre Teilnahme! Bei Fragen zur Anmeldung rufen Sie uns bitte an oder senden uns eine E-Mail. Termine 2 Tage 28. bis 29. Januar 2020 17. bis 18. März 2020 16. bis 17. Juni 2020 Tag 1: 10:30 bis 17:30 Uhr Tag 2: 09:00 bis 16:30 Uhr Berlin Teilnahmegebühr 1.598,– € ı zzgl. 19 % USt. Im Preis inbegriffen sind: ı Seminarunterlagen ı Teilnahmebescheinigung ı Pausenverpflegung inkl. Mittagessen Kontakt INFORUM Verlags- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH Robert-Koch-Platz 4 10115 Berlin Petra Dinter-Tumtzak Fon +49 30 498555-30 Fax +49 30 498555-18 Seminare@KernD.de
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atw - International Journal for Nuclear Power | 11/12.2019

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