Technological Innovation and Social Change

The Newsletter gives an overview of current activities of the Europäische Akademie and its running and future projects. It is published mostly in English and appears free of charge six or eight times per year.
Regular parts of it are the focus article (scientists write about a topic of the project groups or other issues relevant for the Europäische Akademie), news about the academy´s working groups and latest publications and lectures of members of the Europäische Akademie. ...

No. 78:
March 2008
Pros and cons of nuclear energy: Private versus social costs
Thomas Ziesemer
No. 77:


January 2008
Is there an imminent renaissance of nuclear energy?
Klaus Heinloth

The Ziesmer article makes some interesting poiints: herer is the abstract:
"Whether or not nuclear energy should be used as a means against climate change cannot be determined
on the basis of lower CO2 emissions alone. Other aspects have to be taken into account
as well. It is hard, though, to find other favourable aspects, because (i) it is an unnecessarily
costly technology if all cost items in regard to risks of terrorism, safety and nuclear waste as well
as costs of scrapping are correctly taken into account rather than being waived as implicit
subsidies, (ii) the political situations in the relevant countries of procurement are not more favourable
than for the alternatives. The costs of electricity from fourth generation reactors which may
be an option for the future are unknown by now. As an intermediary solution, until long-run solutions
are found, nuclear energy is likely to crowd out the renewable and sustainable technologies.
The remaining chance for nuclear energy is based on high CO2-prices to be paid by the
competitors and low insurance costs, risks being born by society. This scenario, however, represents
an unfair competition through an asymmetric handling of the principal of causation."

And from Heinloth:

"Nuclear energy is used extensively worldwide, presently with more than 400 power
plants. These plants mostly use light-water reactors, which, inevitably, are burdened with
the risk of a “maximum credible accident” (MCA). Still, these nuclear power plants contribute
about 17% of the global electricity supply. Roughly two thirds of the electricity
available in the world comes from fossil-fuel stations and the remainder from hydroelectric
power plants. Several countries now consider extending the original service life of existing
nuclear power plants by about 20 years. Furthermore, there are plans to build a new
generation of nuclear plants, promising a lower risk of major accidents. These will be,
mainly, modified light-water reactors like the “European Pressure Water Reactor” (EPR),
but also high-temperature reactors with inherent safety. Presently there are 30 nuclear
power plants under construction worldwide, of which two will be in France and Finland
and eleven in China and India. Another 40 nuclear power plants are under planning. This
would amount to 15% global growth of installed nuclear power capacity. The question
is: What are the boundary conditions and energy options that influence this development?"