Role of nuclear cogeneration in a low carbon future ... carbon future: opportunities and challenges IAEA TM on Operating Experience with, and Project Feasibility of Process Heat Applications,

© 2016 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development © 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Role of nuclear cogeneration in a low carbon future:

opportunities and challenges

IAEA TM on Operating Experience with, and Project Feasibility of Process Heat Applications, Budapest, 23-25 May 2016

Dr. Henri PAILLERE OECD NEA, Nuclear Development Division,

[email protected]

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mailto:[email protected]


The IEA is an autonomous body within the OECD framework.

(September 1961, 34 member countries today)

(November 1974, 28 member countries today)

(December 1957 ‘European Nuclear Energy Agency’ April 1972 OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, 31 members today

The NEA is a specialised agency within OECD.

International Energy Agency: All energy technologies except nuclear fission

OECD Nuclear Energy Agency: nuclear fission

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http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html


• Australia • Austria • Belgium* • Canada* • Chile • Czech Republic* • Denmark • Estonia • Finland* • France* • Germany* • Greece • Hungary* • Iceland

• Ireland • Israel • Italy • Japan* • Korea* • Luxembourg • Mexico* • Netherlands* • New Zealand • Norway • Poland • Portugal • Russia* (1st Jan. 2013) • Slovak Republic*

• Slovenia* • Spain* • Sweden* • Switzerland* • Turkey • United Kingdom* • United States*

OECD and NEA member OECD member, not NEA NEA member, not OECD

* NEA countries that have NPPs (19 out of 31)

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Assists its 31 member countries (85% of world installed nuclear capacity) in maintaining and further developing, through international co-operation, the scientific, technological and legal bases required for the safe, environmentally friendly and economical use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

Areas of work include: Nuclear safety and regulation

Nuclear energy development

Radioactive waste management

Radiological protection and public health

Nuclear law and liability

Nuclear science & data bank

The NEA also serves as the Technical Secretariat for the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), for the Multinational Design Evaluation Programme (MDEP) and for the International Forum for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC)

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© 2016 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

Nuclear energy to decarbonise the power sector: IEA/NEA nuclear technology roadmap (2015)

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• Power sector: 40% of CO2 emissions from the energy sector (about 12 Gt CO2 / year out of about 31 Gt)

• Replacing nuclear by coal (resp. gas) would lead to: 2.6 (resp. 1.3) Gt CO2 additional emissions, representing +22% (resp. +11%) increase in CO2 emissions.

• Since 1980, release of over 60 Gt CO2 avoided thanks to nuclear power.

© 2016 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development © 2015 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 6

IEA/NEA nuclear technology roadmap on non-electric applications of

nuclear energy


COP21 Conference, Paris, December 2015


COP21: limiting global warming to less than 2°C

Share of the power sector in overall emissions is growing (40% in 2011, 42% today) need to decarbonise the power sector. But to limit global warming to less than 2°C will require decarbonising other sectors too: transport, space heating, industrial processes…. Role of nuclear energy as a low C source of electricity AND heat

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Some figures • Production of heat:

– 172 EJ in 2011 – 1/3 global energy supply – More than 50% global final energy consumption

• ¾ (129 EJ) of global energy used for heat is met with fossil fuels

• Production of heat = 10 Gt CO2 global energy related CO2 emissions, 1/3 of the emissions from the energy sector.

• Energy is not just about the power sector: the “heat” sector is equally important – and so is the transport sector. Both are sectors for which nuclear energy can make a contribution, with benefits in terms of CO2 emissions.

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Thermal-efficiency of cogeneration system


Thermal-efficiency of nuclear power generation (LWR)


Nuclear electricity generation means that two thirds of the heat produced is wasted.

Potential for utilisation of nuclear heat/steam in four areas: - desalination - district heating in residential/commercial areas - industrial process heat - fuel synthesis

Less than 1% of the nuclear heat used for non-electric applications

Nuclear heat/steam experience of ~750 reactor operation years from 74 NPP (mainly district heating and desalination)

Why nuclear cogeneration?


• 25-page report reviewed by the NDC. • Structure:

– Current status and future prospects for nuclear non-electricity energy products

– Supply potential for nuclear non-electricity energy products

– Strategic issues for development and deployment

– Findings and Recommendations

Non-electricity products of Nuclear Energy (2004)

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• Findings and Recommendations: – If the potential of non-electric applications of nuclear energy is so

high, why has its deployment been so limited? – Limited data, market information, technology assessment not

comprehensive preliminary findings & recommendations. 1. Need to understand better the markets & increase communication with

stakeholders 2. Establishing a interest group (with links to developing countries/markets) 3. Depending on demand (distributed vs. centralised), nuclear technology

solutions will vary (small (modular) reactors vs large units). Nuclear energy sector needs to be involved in the development of “end applications”.

4. Need for demonstration projects. 5. Competitiveness of non-electric products is essential 6. Involvement of governments & international co-operation

Non-electricity products of Nuclear Energy (2004)

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• Proceedings of 4 Information Exchange Meetings: – 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2009 – 2009: Contents:

I. Programme Overview II. High-Temperature Electrolysis III. Thermochemical sulphur process IV. Thermochemical copper chloride and calcium

bromide processes V. Economics and market analysis of

hydrogen production and use VI. Safety aspects of nuclear hydrogen production

Nuclear production of Hydrogen (2000-2009)

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Economics and market analysis of hydrogen production and use • Nuclear H2 production – a utility perspective. (US Utility Entergy)

• Belief that HTGR can compete with fossil fuel for process heat supply, and that nuclear H2 production can become competitive on the bulk market (with respect to steam methane reforming)

• Interest of Entergy also related to fact that its NPP sites are located near existing H2 pipeline infrastructures. • Market assessment for process heat applications justify further RD&D • BUT commercial viability nuclear H2 production still unclear (lack of specificity in cost and economic modelling) uncertainties in investment and O&M cost assumptions AND operational & deployments risks.

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Joint NEA/IAEA Expert Workshop (4-5 April 2013, Paris) 30 invited experts from 9 NEA countries and international

organisations (IAEA, OECD, IEA) 6 sessions:

o District heating & Desalination o High temperature process heat applications & H2 production o Nuclear hybrid systems, synergies NE/RES o Economic modelling & business case challenges

All workshop material (summary report, presentations) available on workshop site: http://www.oecd-nea.org/ndd/workshops/nucogen/

Joint NEA/IAEA Expert Workshop (2013)

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http://www.oecd-nea.org/ndd/workshops/nucogen/


Summary of 2013 workshop Proven record of operating non-electric applications of NE (district heating & desalination) In other areas, feasibility studies, lab scale or prototype testing exist – but no significant industrial experience Overall efficiency & economics of NE can be improved by developing & selling non-electric products. Also benefit in terms of reduction in GHG emissions (but needs to be quantified) Indications that markets for non-electric products exist But work needed:

economic modelling licensing issues, safety considerations operational issues assessment of hybrid systems involving NPPs and RES, with NPPs operating at full power, producing electricity & other products lack of information to general public & decision-makers

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On-going study at NEA: (2015-2016)

contributions from: Canada, Czech

Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Poland, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom,

United States + IEA, IAEA


Czech Republic: District Heating


Finland: District Heating


Japan: Desalination & H2 production


Korea: H2, process heat, Desalination


Poland: district heating, coal gasification


Slovenia: District heating


Switzerland: District Heating


United Kingdom: DH, heat


United States: Nuclear Hybrid Energy Systems


IEA: on CHP


Conclusions (1)

Over 750 reactor-years of non-electric applications of nuclear energy– though not always in a commercial / liberalised market environment.

Selling commercially both electricity and non-electric products remains a challenge. Some economic assessment tools exist but standardised methodologies for non-electric applications missing.

Significant development of non-electric applications of nuclear energy are not expected in the short to mid-term, especially if/where fossil-based alternatives (gas) remain cheap.

Carbon constraints / pricing will help improve the competitiveness of nuclear cogeneration

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Conclusions (2)

Cogeneration: o Can improve the overall efficiency of NPPs; o Opens different streams of revenues to operators

(economic assessment) o Has a potential to play in future low carbon energy

systems, where nuclear would provide electricity & storage through production of fuels.

New issues associated with this flexible mode of operation would need to be addressed (safety, operational, licensing)

Work needed to provide information to general public and policy makers

NEA study to provide additional insights.

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Enhance energy security

Improve energy (fuel) efficiencies

Reduced CO2 emissions

Minimize heat losses

(non-nuclear) CHP since long applied in many industries

Why nuclear cogeneration?

Documents

Role of nuclear cogeneration in a low carbon future ... carbon future: opportunities and challenges IAEA TM on Operating Experience with, and Project Feasibility of Process Heat Applications,