Revisiting the Need of Nuclear Energy | 28 Apr 2023

As renewable energy sources like solar and wind power gain popularity globally and supply of nuclear fuel continuously being a big burden on country’s finances, questions arise on whether nuclear power is still relevant in a fossil-free future, particularly in India where safety and cost concerns persist.

• Recently, Germany has closed its last nuclear plant, and France struggles to replace its aging reactors despite being a nuclear powerhouse.
• On one hand, Nuclear energy provides low carbon, firm and reliable source of energy but on the other hand, it creates challenges regarding safety of reactors and safe disposal of nuclear waste. Also, supply of nuclear fuel is a constraint in growth of nuclear energy.

What is the Current Status of Nuclear Power Globally?

Nuclear power is witnessing a renaissance post Ukraine war, as many countries from Europe and USA have started increasing the share of Nuclear energy in their energy mix.

• South Korea’s new president has changed the energy policy and committed to increasing the share of nuclear power in the country’s energy mix to 30% by 2030.
• Japan, which should have completely shut down reactors after the Fukushima (accident), is restarting the reactors to diversify from coal and natural gas. Currently, 10 nuclear reactors have resumed operation while 17 are in the pipeline in Japan.
• U.K. has said that without scaling up nuclear power, it won’t be possible to decarbonise the electricity sector.
• China has anyway been surging ahead on nuclear power.

What is the Status of Nuclear Energy in India?

• Nuclear energy is the fifth-largest source of electricity in India, contributing about 2% of the country's total electricity generation.
• India currently has over 22 nuclear reactors in 7 power plants across the country, which together produce 6,780 MW of nuclear power.
  • Of these reactors, 18 are Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) and 4 are Light Water Reactors (LWRs).
• In January 2021, the Kakrapar Atomic Power Project (KAPP-3), India's first 700 MWe unit and the biggest indigenously developed variant of the PHWR, was connected to the grid.
• The Indian government has allowed joint ventures between the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and public sector undertakings (PSUs) to enhance India's nuclear program. NPCIL is now in joint ventures with the National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC) and the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
• The government is promoting the expansion of nuclear installations to other parts of the country. For example, an upcoming nuclear power plant in Gorakhpur town in Haryana will become operational in the near future.
• India is also working on an entirely indigenous thorium-based nuclear plant, "Bhavni," which will be the first of its kind using Uranium-233. The experimental thorium plant "Kamini" already exists in Kalpakkam.

Why is Nuclear Energy a Necessity?

• Cheaper to Operate:
  • Nuclear power plants are cheaper to operate than coal or gas plants, despite the cost of managing radioactive fuel and disposal. Estimates show that nuclear plants cost only 33-50% of a coal plant and 20-25% of a gas combined-cycle plant.
• Availability of Thorium Reserves:
  • Thorium availability makes nuclear energy a promising solution for India's energy needs. It is considered the fuel of the future, and India is a leading country in Thorium resources. This could help India achieve its goal of being a fossil fuel-free nation.
• Reduction in Petroleum Imports:
  • Nuclear energy can help India reduce its import bills by up to $100 billion annually, which is currently spent on importing petroleum and coal.
• Firm and Dispatchable Power:
  • Unlike solar and wind power, which are dependent on weather conditions, nuclear power provides a reliable, high-density source of energy that is widely available.
  • Firm/dispatchable power is the power that can be sent to the electric grid to be supplied whenever needed. It can be turned on or off whenever needed.
• Cleaner Form of Energy:
  • A 1,000 megawatts plant operating at 90% plant load factor requires over a year only 25 tonnes of low enriched uranium fuel.
    • Uranium enriched to concentrations above 0.7% but less than 20% uranium-235 is defined as low enriched uranium (LEU). Most nuclear reactors use LEU that is about 3-5% uranium.
  • Compared to it, a coal plant (of similar capacity) will require approximately five million tonnes of coal, and coal produces ash.

Why are there Calls for Phase out of Nuclear Energy?

• Sourcing of Nuclear Fuel:
  • India’s nuclear plan is premised on working around its limited supply of enriched uranium, which is difficult to source and is a burden on finances.
  • Though India has sufficient reserves of Thorium, we have not yet shifted to Thorium based Nuclear plants.
• Fears About Safety:
  • Nuclear industry is moving towards ‘passive safety’ designs (for nuclear reactors) and are safer than older designs of nuclear plants.
  • For Instance, Fukushima reactor based on older design led to disaster in Japan.
• Nuclear Waste:
  • Another side effect of nuclear power is the amount of nuclear waste it produces. Nuclear waste can have drastically bad effects on life, causing cancerous growths, for instance, or causing genetic problems for many generations of animals and plants.
  • For instance, Kudankulam plant in Tamil Nadu has met with several delays due to the land acquisition and protest from villagers.
• Capital Intensive:
  • Nuclear power plants are capital intensive and recent nuclear builds have suffered major cost overruns. An illustrative example is the V.C. Summer nuclear project in South Carolina (U.S.) where costs rose so sharply that the project was abandoned — after an expenditure of over $9 billion.

What can be the Way Ahead?

• Open up the Market:
  • Allow other government companies like the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) to get into nuclear on their own to break the monopoly held by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and promote competition.
• Focus on a Portfolio of Technologies:
  • Energy, especially electricity, is not going to be solved by one technology alone. India should focus on a mix of supply-side and demand-side options, both within and outside the nuclear sector such as solar and hydro energy.
• Encourage an Enabling Policy Framework:
  • Instead of setting targets for nuclear energy growth, the government should focus on creating frameworks and support mechanisms that encourage the growth of low-carbon, firm, and reliable energy sources, including nuclear.
• Invest in Research and Development:
  • India should invest in research and development of advanced nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors, to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and address safety concerns and make use of Thorium reserves.
• Small Modular Reactor:
  • Small Modular Reactors present numerous advantages, such as the reduction of costs and construction time. They also present a high level of inherent safety, since they use passive safety factors.

Conclusion

• From environmental perspective, shutting down cement plants or other assets before their full life term means wasting the carbon already sunk in them. Hence, it is better to use them until their end of life.
• Hence, India should involve a balanced approach that addresses the challenges and opportunities of the sector and enables the growth of a portfolio of low-carbon, firm, and reliable energy sources.