The groundbreaking civil nuclear fission sector

Nuclear power has a future  

The International Energy Agency (IEA) makes regular updates to its “Net Zero by 2050” report, which is aimed at preparing the energy sector for the global objective of achieving net zero by 2050. The IEA’s roadmap may shine the spotlight on innovative solutions that have reached an advanced stage of development, but it fails to consider such technological breakthroughs as nuclear fusion. Although small modular reactors (SMRs) have a role to play in the net zero pathways, expectations are high for developing large pressurised water reactors (Generation III and III+ PWRs, such as the EPR and EPR2 in Europe, and its competitors, namely the AP1000 in the United States and Hualong-1 in China). 

The Fukushima accident in Japan in 2011 had the effect of putting the brakes on ambitions to scale up the nuclear power sector. Some 10 or so years later, nuclear power seems to be making a comeback on political agendas around the world. Several countries have recently taken steps to increase the service life of their legacy power plants, including plans to build new nuclear facilities. Five countries in Europe are already venturing down this road, including France. Canada and the United States recently introduced a tax credit scheme for producing nuclear energy. China is maintaining its strategy of ramping up its nuclear power capacity with every intention of accelerating its deployment programme, while the rest of the world is enthusiastically embracing nuclear power. VINCI Construction subsidiary Freyssinet has already taken part in building 150 reactors around the world and was recently awarded contracts for nuclear power plant projects in Bangladesh and Hungary. The fast expansion of the nuclear construction sector in emerging markets and developing economies will typically be dependent on importing the required nuclear technologies. VINCI Construction subsidiary Nuvia is drawing on its expertise in nuclear power to support and guide nuclear development programmes in 12 countries around the world. 

Adaptations, innovations and new applications for nuclear fission 

Compact but powerful: small modular nuclear reactors 

Fission of the future: new uses for nuclear reactors? 

The vast majority of commercial reactors are currently designed to generate electricity, but nuclear fission energy could be harnessed for other applications in the future. For example, nuclear reactors could take over from fossil fuels to produce the heat needed to power industrial processes and district heating networks. There is also talk of using nuclear energy to generate hydrogen, desalinate sea water and fuel the propulsion systems aboard merchant shipping vessels. According to estimates, using electronuclear energy to produce only 4% of the hydrogen currently generated would reduce CO2 emissions by 60 million tons a year. Therefore, SMRs have a key role to play in promoting these new uses alongside large reactors. 

Regeneration: a disruptive technology with a stumbling block   

What would happen if industry switched over to a radically different form of fission energy that used fewer resources? Regeneration takes advantage of the spent fuel to deliver the same quantity of energy, but using 200 times less natural uranium. However, regeneration can only be carried out in a fast-neutron reactor, which creates a whole new set of technical constraints. So what type of cooling method would be used? A system involving molten salt, gas or lead? Tests are currently underway. At a time when light water-cooled reactors continue to dominate the market and uranium costs are still low, migrating to this type of technology would require major investments and the need to plan several decades ahead. 

Sources : 

International Energy Agency, www.iea.org