| It is time to build new nuclear power |
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 The world faces a severe energy supply problems: How will the increased energy demand be met, while climate targets are met? The debate can sometimes get the feeling that increased energy demand is trivial and that only the bottoms of the people want more appliances that make life more comfortable. The increased energy demand is obviously not trivial, but it is about meeting basic needs, such as access to drinking water and to create conditions for development and prosperity for a large part of humanity. If 20 years is estimated half of the world's population suffers a lack of fresh water and there is a scenario that, apart from the humanistic side of things, is likely to create considerable tension in the world. Today the situation is such that new technologies must be developed to replace the fossil fuels, whose share, just for the world's electricity, is about 70 percent. Nuclear power accounts for about 20 percent and international efforts are now underway to increase the share at the expense of fossil fuel usage. Like most things we humans are doing, nuclear power has its drawbacks. On the other hand, has the indisputable advantage and we can find new techniques that reduce the inconvenience and simultaneously reinforces the benefits have been gained. Generation IV concept, also called fourth-generation nuclear technology, can be such a push from. Internationally, the Generation IV hot Swedish and for some, economic research within a National Genius, "Generation IV" of the University of Sweden. Genius is collaboration between Uppsala University, KTH and Chalmers, where work will focus on the so-called fast blykylda reactors with associated fuel recycling. What can you do with this technology? The natural resources can be used 100 times better than current technology. This means that the uranium in today mineable assets is sufficient to tens of thousands of years. It generated radically less long-lived waste. Today's huge volumes of depleted uranium can be used as fuel in? Instead of like ballast in sailing boats, It is easy to establish, for example, America's entire electricity needs could be met Sweden has been at the nuclear pole position and there is reason to once again bring Swedish engineering on the world map. We see a very interesting opportunity for Sweden to within 10-15 years to host a small plant to demonstrate the fourth-generation nuclear power as part of a wider European project. We invite therefore Swedish industry, the political realm, research funders and the public to a discussion of the benefits of such projects for research, industry and future welfare in Sweden and globalt.Ane Hakansson Professor, Applied Nuclear Physics, Uppsala University |
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