The Nuclear energy of the future

Abstract

The IAEA is the worlds center of cooperation in the nuclear field. It was set up as the world organization Atoms for Peace in 1957 within the United Nations. The Agency works with its Member States and multiple partners worldwide to promote safe, secure, and peaceful nuclear technologies, while ensuring that nuclear materials are never diverted to military use. It also helps its Member States to maintain up-to-date safety and protection levels and to be prepared for possible emergencies. The Department of Technical Cooperation, directed by Ana María Cetto, currently has more than 800 projects underway to address problems that can be solved with the use of nuclear technology. In the current budget, the largest item (approximately 24%) is dedicated to applications in health, followed by safety in transport and radiation, nuclear science, and food and agriculture (approximately 11% each). The IAEA collaborates in the planning of the nuclear needs of its Member States, including the generation of energy. This paper describes the current global energy scenario and discusses the role played by different energy sources. It describes the reasons for the different mix of energy supplies chosen by individual countries, and underlines that costs of production are an important factor in energy source selection. Noting that concerns about energy in the context of sustainable development are a recent phenomenon, the papers discusses recent international efforts to address energy issues, and assesses the role of nuclear energy in todays scenario. Current nuclear expansion is described, as well as its potential sustainability, and the role it can play in the reduction of greenhouse gases. The paper closes with a discussion of the support that the IAEA offers to Member States interested in the nuclear option, and ends with an overview of two major approaches to nuclear energy production in the future.