Abstract :
The historical development of the civil nuclear power generation industry is
examined in the light of the need to meet conflicting energy-supply and
environmental pressures over recent decades. It is suggested that fission
(thermal and fast) reactors will dominate the market up to the period
2010-2030, with fusion being relegated to the latter part of the twenty-first
century. A number of issues affecting the use of nuclear electricity generation
in Western Europe are considered. including its cost, industrial strategy
needs, and the public acceptability of nuclear power. The contribution of
nuclear power stations to achieving CO2 targets aimed at relieving global
warming is discussed in the context of alternative strategies for sustainable
development, including renewable energy sources and energy-efficiency
measures. Trends in the generation o/nuclear electricity from fission reactors
arefinally considered in terms of the main geopolitical groupings that make
up the world in the mid-1990s. Several recent, but somewhat conflicting,
forecasts 0/ the role of nuclear power in the fuel mix to about 2020 are
reviewed. It is argued that the only major expansion in generating capacity
will take place on the Asia-Pacific Rim and not in the developing countries
generally. Nevertheless, the global nuclear industry overall will continue to
be dominated by a small number 0/ large nuclear electricity generating
countries; principally the USA, France and Japan. Copyright
