ABSTRACT
Civil nuclear power is a technology apart, one that is complex and not easily deployed. Nonetheless, it has strengths many, of which are rarely mentioned and this means it can be difficult to establish its overall relative status amongst the various technologies that may be deployed in the future. This chapter discusses the many strengths of this technology.
Nuclear power is a mature technology providing large volumes of low-carbon electricity for long periods of time, and this makes it a strong candidate for Climate Change mitigation; further, it does not emit sulphur or nitrogen oxides, both of which are regional air pollutants associated with fossil generation. Uranium fuel for nuclear reactors is plentiful and available in several countries around the world.
Nuclear power has several other attributes; for example, it is reliable and predictable, and it can contribute inertia and frequency stability to the electricity system. The nuclear industry is a highly regulated industry employing large numbers of highly skilled scientists and engineers. A new power station can benefit up to three generations of people in the future, and its many attributes mean it can contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
