Nuclear energy

Nuclear energy is one of the key challenges we have chosen to currently promote as part of our Chemistry for Tomorrow's World initiatives.

Challenge: Nuclear energy generation is a critical medium term solution to our energy problems. The technical challenge is for the safe and efficient harnessing of nuclear energy, exploring both fission and fusion technologies.

Nuclear power is a low carbon source of electricity and makes an important contribution to of our energy supplies. Without existing nuclear power stations, UK carbon emissions would have been 5-12 per cent higher in 2004 than otherwise.¹ Nuclear energy generation is therefore a critical medium-term solution to our energy challenge.

Potential opportunities for the chemical sciences:

• Research methods for the efficient and safe utilisation of nuclear fission
  • Advance the understanding of the physico-chemical effects of radiation on material fatigue, stresses and corrosion in nuclear power stations
  • Improve methods for spent fuel processing including developing advanced separation technologies (allowing control of chemical selectivity)
  • Design and demonstrate the new generation of advanced reactors including GEN IV based fuel cycles using actinide-based fuels
  • Study the nuclear and chemical properties of the actinide and lanthanide elements
  • Improve understanding of radiation effects on polymers, rubbers and ion exchange material    
• Nuclear fusion
  • Develop high performance structural materials capable of withstanding extreme operating conditions    

1 The Role of nuclear power in a low carbon economy, paper 2: Reducing CO2 emissions - Nuclear and the alternatives, Sustainable Development Commission, 2006