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Life Cycle Assessment of the New Generation GT-MHR Nuclear Power Plant

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Koltun

    (Centre for Environmental Safety and Risk Engineering (CESARE), Victoria University, Melbourne 8001, Australia)

  • Alfred Tsykalo

    (Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies, 112 Kanatna St, Odesa 65000, Ukraine)

  • Vasily Novozhilov

    (Centre for Environmental Safety and Risk Engineering (CESARE), Victoria University, Melbourne 8001, Australia)

Abstract

This study describes a life cycle assessment (LCA) of a fourth generation (4G) nuclear power plant. A high temperature helium cooled reactor and gas turbine technology with modular helium reactor (GT-MHR) is used in this study as an example. This is currently one the safest design of a nuclear power plant. The study also takes into account impact of accidents and incidents (AI) which happened around the world at nuclear power generation facilities. The adopted method for the study is a hybrid LCA analysis. The analysis of each phase of the life cycle was done on the basis of process chain analysis (PCA). Where detailed data were not available, the Input/Output (I/O) databases was employed. The obtained results show that greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and energy intensity per unit of electricity production are relatively low. In fact, these are even lower than emissions from a number of renewable energy sources. The results show considerably different greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and energy intensity per unit of electricity production when effects of AI are taken into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Koltun & Alfred Tsykalo & Vasily Novozhilov, 2018. "Life Cycle Assessment of the New Generation GT-MHR Nuclear Power Plant," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(12), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:11:y:2018:i:12:p:3452-:d:189359
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Giambattista Guidi & Anna Carmela Violante & Simona De Iuliis, 2023. "Environmental Impact of Electricity Generation Technologies: A Comparison between Conventional, Nuclear, and Renewable Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-33, November.
    2. Pomponi, Francesco & Hart, Jim, 2021. "The greenhouse gas emissions of nuclear energy – Life cycle assessment of a European pressurised reactor," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
    3. Paweł Sokólski & Tomasz A. Rutkowski & Bartosz Ceran & Dariusz Horla & Daria Złotecka, 2021. "Power System Stabilizer as a Part of a Generator MPC Adaptive Predictive Control System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-25, October.
    4. Jakub Hospodka & Helena Bínová & Stanislav Pleninger, 2020. "Assessment of All-Electric General Aviation Aircraft," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-19, November.

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