Nuclear power could generate 25 percent of the world's electricity by 2050, according to a joint study by the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). The Nuclear Energy Technology Roadmap said such an expansion would require nuclear generating capacity to more than triple over the next 40 years, a target described as “ambitious” but “achievable.” It said the designs would need to be fully established over the next few years if they were to help nuclear energy be competitive after 2020. Nuclear generating capacity worldwide is currently at 370 GW electrical, providing 14 percent of global electricity. It could grow to 1,200 GW to cut energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by 50 percent by 2050, providing 24 percent of global electricity at that time. The roadmap called nuclear power a mature, low-carbon technology that was ready to expand over the next few decades. Financing the construction of new nuclear power plants is expected to be a challenge in some countries, and governments may have to support the nuclear programs through loan guarantees and other incentives until the programs are well established. Saudi Arabia signed a nuclear cooperation accord with France, which could open the way for French help in developing nuclear power in the Kingdom. The pact was first proposed by French President Nicolas Sarkozy in talks with King Abdullah in June 2007 in Paris, and the French side submitted a draft when Sarkozy visited Riyadh in January 2008. Saudi agreement was delayed while Riyadh undertook last year a formal review of its nuclear policy, which resulted in the April 2010 announcement that the Kingdom would establish a new research center on nuclear and renewable energy. That was seen as the strongest signal yet that the country, which burns large amounts of oil and natural gas to generate electricity and desalinate seawater for domestic consumption, could develop nuclear power. The Shaw Group Inc., Toshiba Corp. and Exelon Nuclear Partners plan to design, engineer, construct and operate new nuclear electric generating plants in Saudi Arabia. The group jointly would pursue engineering, procurement, construction and operations of nuclear power plants using Toshiba's Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR). The group also is capable of utilizing Westinghouse AP1000 technology. Toshiba and Shaw would provide design, engineering, procurement and construction while Exelon would provide operations and related services for the projects. The Saudi government recently stated its commitment to the research and funding of commercial nuclear power. Shaw currently is working in Saudi Arabia, performing a three-phase study to define and recommend operational improvements at 53 power plants throughout the Kingdom. For any US company to engage in civilian nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the US and Saudi Arabian governments must negotiate a framework agreement that meets specific requirements under Section 123 of the Atomic Energy Act, followed by US congressional review of the agreement. Execution of any business arrangements for a Japanese company with a Saudi Arabian entity is also subject to the future conclusion of an Agreement for Cooperation between Japanese and Saudi Arabian governments concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy. No major technological breakthroughs would be needed to achieve the level of nuclear expansion predicted, the roadmap document said. However, policy-related, industrial, financial and public acceptance barriers to the rapid growth of nuclear power remained a challenge. Further, the study noted that progress in implementing plans for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste would also be vital and that the international system of safeguards to prevent proliferation of nuclear technology and materials must be maintained and strengthened where necessary. A panel of administrative judges at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) ruled on June 29th that the US Department of Energy (DOE) cannot withdraw its application to open a nuclear waste facility at Yucca Mountain in Nevada. The three-member panel said DOE's decision to drop the application violated the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982. The Act said that unless Congress directs otherwise DOE cannot unilaterally change or end the decision-making process. The decision to overturn DOE's withdrawal could be overruled by the NRC itself, but the effect of the panel's decision is unknown. Congress would have to appropriate hundreds of millions of dollars annually for DOE to move forward with the application but President Obama's budget for next year did not appropriate any money at all. To date, some $10 billion has been spent, money mostly contributed by electricity consumers who are paying into a nuclear waste fund. The president said he would drop plans for Yucca Mountain. But Washington state and South Carolina petitioned to prevent the Energy Department from withdrawing the application. President Obama said he would establish a commission to find solutions to nuclear waste. The commission is looking for ways to recycle and reuse some of the waste. Under an agreement signed by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Canada's nuclear industry will be able to access India's nuclear market. Announced in November 2009 and with the final signatures now in place, the countries are moving forward to complete all of the remaining steps needed to ensure its early implementation. The agreement aims to create an enabling environment that will permit members of Canada's nuclear industry to cooperate with designated civilian nuclear installations under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards in India. These agreements provide international treaty level assurances that the nuclear material, equipment and technology involved will only be used for civilian, peaceful and non-explosive purposes. As well as providing access to each other's markets, they also open the door to the possibility of joint ventures. India has a growing nuclear power program with plans for 20,000 MWe of nuclear capacity on line by 2020 and 63,000 MWe by 2032, although it has limited domestic uranium resources. Finland's parliament has approved construction of the country's sixth and seventh nuclear power reactors. One will be built at Olkiluoto by TVO. A second will be built by Fennovoima at Simo or Pyhajoki in northern Finland. These reactors will add between 2,650 to 3,400 MWe to the country's total, depending on reactor types selected. Parliament also voted to increase the capacity of Posiva's high-level waste repository at Eurajoki near Olkiluoto. Finland generates roughly 82 billion kWh per year while 22.6 billion kWh (27.8 percent in 2009) comes from nuclear. Russia and the United Arab Emirates plan to sign an agreement to work together on nuclear energy. Russia's Energy Minister said the signing will give Russia the potential to work on research reactors and to take part in the Emirates' program with the Koreans.
