Sustainability and Nuclear Power

Dear Colleagues,

While nuclear power was widely believed to be the energy source of the future when it was first developed in the 1950s and 1960s, the rate of power plant construction has dramatically slowed in the last few decades. Moreover, new nuclear plants are being built in only a few countries, most notably China, Russia, India, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, and the USA. This is largely attributable to excessive capital costs, several risks, but, notably, serious nuclear plant accidents, such as those that occurred at Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi, and the as of yet unsolved problem of long-term radioactive waste disposal. Even so, advocates point to nuclear power’s benefits of no air pollution, safe, reliable, and low-cost plant operations, and reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the context of increasing global climate change. The purpose of this Special Issue is to review, debate and critique the sustainability dimensions of nuclear power, based on the latest understanding of nuclear reactor technologies (including fusion, as well as fission), economic costs, climate change and other externalities, human health, and other social issues. We invite all papers on the sustainability dimensions of nuclear power, whether pro, anti or agnostic. Potential authors should review some of the key literature cited herein, and in their papers critically examine multiple sustainability challenges. These include the short and long-term costs of nuclear power, nuclear fuel supply, environmental issues including air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, nuclear risks, such as radiation exposure, reactor accidents and nuclear weapons proliferation, reactor decommissioning, and long-term disposal and management of radioactive wastes. Papers that examine several dimensions of sustainability are especially welcome, with or without the use of sustainability metrics. Papers on nuclear fusion are also encouraged. In addition, case studies might address the regional, geographic or international differences and variations in the sustainability of nuclear power. The intent of this Special Issue is to build on the existing literature in a more integrated and interdisciplinary manner without a preconceived bias for or against both nuclear fission and fusion power.

Prof. Dr. Barry D. Solomon
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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References

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• climate change
• economics of nuclear power
• life cycle analysis
• nuclear energy
• nuclear weapons proliferation
• nuclear risk acceptance
• radioactive waste management
• sustainability