| Nuclear energy policy is national and | | | | nuclear power as part of their strategies on |
| international policy concerning some or all | | | | tackling global warming and climate change. |
| aspects of nuclear energy, such as mining for | | | | |
| nuclear fuel, extraction and processing of | | | | In 1999 the countries that relied most on |
| nuclear fuel from the ore, generating | | | | nuclear energy were France (with 75 % of its |
| electricity by nuclear power, enriching and | | | | electricity generated by nuclear power |
| storing spent nuclear fuel and nuclear fuel | | | | stations), Lithuania (73 %), Belgium (58 %), |
| reprocessing. | | | | Bulgaria, Slovakia and Sweden (47 %), Ukraine |
| | | | (44 %) and South Korea (43 %). The largest |
| Nuclear energy policies often include the | | | | producer of nuclear capacity was the USA with |
| regulation of energy use and standards | | | | 28 % of worldwide capacity, followed by |
| relating to the nuclear fuel cycle. Other | | | | France (18 %) and Japan (12 %) [2]. In 2000, |
| measures include efficiency standards, safety | | | | there were 438 commercial nuclear generating |
| regulations, emission standards, fiscal | | | | units throughout the world, with a total |
| policies, and legislation on energy trading, | | | | capacity of about 351 gigawatts. |
| transport of nuclear waste and contaminated | | | | |
| materials, and their storage. Governments | | | | According to IAEA, nuclear power is projected |
| might subsidize nuclear energy and arrange | | | | to increase to 17% share of the world's |
| international treaties and trade agreements | | | | electricity production by 2020. They predict |
| about the import and export of nuclear | | | | 60 new plants will be installed over the next |
| technology, electricity, nuclear waste, and | | | | 15 years . |
| uranium. | | | | |
| | | | Policy options |
| Since nuclear energy and nuclear weapons | | | | |
| technologies are closely related, military | | | | After a period of decline in the use of |
| aspirations can act as a factor in energy | | | | nuclear technology following the 1979 Three |
| policy decisions. The fear of nuclear | | | | Mile Island accident and the 1986 incident at |
| proliferation influences some international | | | | Chernobyl, there has more lately been renewed |
| nuclear energy policies. | | | | interest in nuclear energy. Some policymakers |
| | | | have returned to the 'nuclear option' because |
| The global picture | | | | they see it as potentially able to address |
| | | | dwindling global oil reserves and global |
| The status of nuclear power globally. Nations | | | | warming with less greenhouse gas emissions |
| in dark green have reactors and are | | | | than fossil fuel. |
| constructing new reactors, those in light | | | | |
| green are constructing their first reactor, | | | | For some countries, nuclear power affords |
| those in dark yellow are considering new | | | | energy independence. In the words of the |
| reactors, those in light yellow are | | | | French, "We have no coal, we have no oil, we |
| considering their first reactor, those in | | | | have no gas, we have no choice." Nuclear |
| blue have reactors but are not constructing | | | | power has been relatively unaffected by |
| or decommissioning, those in light blue are | | | | embargoes, and uranium is mined in reliable |
| considering decommissioning and those in red | | | | countries, including Australia and |
| have decommissioned all their commercial | | | | Canada[5][6]. Nuclear power also has a high |
| reactors. | | | | energy return on energy investment. Using |
| | | | life cycle analysis, it takes 4 to 5 months |
| The status of nuclear power globally. Nations | | | | of energy production from the nuclear plant |
| in dark green have reactors and are | | | | to fully pay back the initial energy |
| constructing new reactors, those in light | | | | investment[7]. |
| green are constructing their first reactor, | | | | |
| those in dark yellow are considering new | | | | But policymakers must also balance their |
| reactors, those in light yellow are | | | | decisions so that the concerns surrounding |
| considering their first reactor, those in | | | | nuclear power are addressed. These include |
| blue have reactors but are not constructing | | | | the problem of storing radioactive waste for |
| or decommissioning, those in light blue are | | | | indefinite periods, the potential for severe |
| considering decommissioning and those in red | | | | radioactive contamination by accident or |
| have decommissioned all their commercial | | | | sabotage, and the possibility that its use |
| reactors. | | | | could in some countries lead to the |
| | | | proliferation of nuclear weapons. |
| Installed nuclear capacity rose relatively | | | | |
| quickly since the 1950s, but since the late | | | | Proponents, including some national |
| 1980s capacity has risen much more slowly, | | | | governments, claim that these risks are small |
| reaching 366 GW in 2005, primarily due to | | | | and can be lessened with new technology. They |
| Chinese expansion of nuclear power. Between | | | | note that France and all of the |
| around 1970 and 1990, more than 50 GW of | | | | industrialised economies of Asia see nuclear |
| capacity was under construction (peaking at | | | | power as a key economic strategy, that the |
| over 150 GW in the late 70s and early 80s). | | | | safety record is already good when compared |
| | | | to other energy forms, that it releases much |
| The growth slowed in the 1980s because of | | | | less pollution than coal power, and that |
| environmentalist opposition, high interest | | | | nuclear power is a sustainable energy source. |
| rates, and energy conservation prompted by | | | | |
| the oil shock in 1973, the energy crisis in | | | | Opponents, including some national |
| 1979 and the Three Mile Island accident and | | | | governments and many environmental groups, |
| Chernobyl disaster. In 1983 an unexpected | | | | claim nuclear power is an uneconomic, unsound |
| fall in fossil fuel prices stopped most new | | | | and potentially dangerous energy source and |
| construction of nuclear power plants. | | | | dispute whether the costs and risks can be |
| Electricity liberalization in the United | | | | reduced through new technology. They note |
| States and Europe during the 1980s and 1990s | | | | that Germany and Australia are |
| increased the financial risk of investing in | | | | commercializing renewable energy and energy |
| nuclear power. More than two-thirds of all | | | | efficiency technologies (see Renewable energy |
| nuclear plants ordered after January 1970 | | | | in Germany and Renewable energy |
| were eventually cancelled.. | | | | commercialization in Australia). |
| | | | |
| Nuclear power plants, however, do not | | | | Others claim that nuclear power is a |
| directly generate any greenhouse gases, some | | | | renewable source of energy |
| governments have therefore returned to | | | | |