PROGRESS OF NUCLEAR POWER

Abstract

Nuclear power is one of the few commercially tested sources virtuallyfreeenergygreenhousegasemissions of. It automatically becomesinteresting to climate experts.But the future of nuclear power is notyetclear. In factonlya few other subjects can bragabout having thema literature aspolarizingas that on the future of nuclear energy. With some notable exceptions, these views are primarilyideological;they range from unconditional support to anegalitarian normative perspective their opposition isdecisive. Nuclear fission willremain an essential part of the world's low-carbon power generation for decades to come. There isa breakthrough opportunity in developinga new generation of nuclear reactors,whichcouldshorten the lifetime of nuclear waste fromthecurrent hundreds of thousandsof years tohundreds of years. Achievingthisdevelopmentrequiresresearchinto fourth generation nuclearreactors.Fast reactors requiresignificant research and development efforts in many areas,frommaterialsscience to safety demonstration,toachievetheirintended goals. Fusion provides a long-term vision for efficient energy production. The fusion option for a nuclear reactor for efficient production of electricity has been set out in a focused European program including the international project of ITER after which a fusion electricity DEMO reactor is envisaged.