AGREES BUT REALLY THE ATOM? Emma Bonino and Elizabeth Zamparutti
Il Sole 24 Ore, 13 December 2009
- The
predictable polemics on nuclear sites and the short call from the government of all businesses "affected" in the field, lead us to propose some fundamental questions that had no convincing answers, along with problems remained unsolved. And lead us to do it right in a newspaper "nuclear" because the comparison is useful between those who have developed different opinions.
repeat the question that we asked in 2008: in terms of cost / benefit to our country should build nuclear plants 25/30 billion commitment over the next year to meet, well that goes from 2020 to 25% of current electricity consumption ` correspond only to about 4.5% of final energy consumption? There is no other way to reach and even exceed the same goal? A recent evaluation
Enea shows that the only technological options with net social benefits or minimum costs are those related to improving energy efficiency in industry, service industry, transport, construction and production and transmission of electricity. According to this study, the electricity sector alone, could save 73 TWh of electricity, 21.6% of final gross consumption in 2008 (337.6 TWh). This huge potential for energy savings in 2020 is the electrical output of about 8 large nuclear power plants.
We are convinced that it is very important to continue to use public resources to enhance our research programs and participate in international efforts in this field. But meanwhile, the ENEA report gives us an unambiguous: the energy efficiency measures are feasible immediately, saves time when innovations are not yet mature in terms of performance and cost, and allow strategic choices in order more aware and sensitive to the real needs of our country.
uncritically we are constantly reiterated the French example, despite news from across the Alps to define an "industrial fiasco" the French nuclear. That, to be clear, we should realize that by focusing on EPR. "We do not know if we can build it, nor at what price may be conducted by 3 billion euro has the past 5 and it evokes the figure of 6 or 7 billion, "summed up a few days ago an executive of EDF by the French newspaper columns Mediapart.fr.
The manufacturer Areva has had to admit that the shipyard has already produced 2.7 billion Finnish losses will grow and to overcome the selling price (3 billion) of the reactor itself. As has been recognized by such delays entry into service of the ERP in 2012 despite initial forecasts of 2009 speak. And the vice president of the company Electric Finnish TVO, Timo Rajala, from the pages of Les Echos has felt obliged to send the item back the accusations of being the delays, saying that "the project took too long ... We do not we want to pay the costs that were necessary for research and development. "More quietly, EDF announced the postponement of at least one year of commissioning of the ERP Flamanville.
But above all, France has not solved the nuclear dependence from fossil fuels, if we consider that consumes more oil per capita in Germany. And if it is true that in the dead hours, when in a situation of overcapacity, we sell electricity, it is equally true that during peak hours just bought it from Germany itself.
Not to mention the warning heavy launched by the three French nuclear safety authorities, Finnish and English. In a joint statement stressed the need to strengthen the ERP system security because "the way in which it was originally proposed by the licensees and Areva, does not observe the principle of` independence 'of the systems of security and control groups, which is a basic principle of security, and called for a complete overhaul of the system. Basically they said: "This will not do." It is not difficult to imagine how much it cost the French authorities to move a public criticism of what is considered a symbol of French grandeur.
Neither seems very different to the situation that other technology that could be implemented in Italy, the American company Westinghouse AP1000 reactor: November 27 Health and Safety management UK (HSE) has warned it could not approve the project if they respond to concerns expressed regarding safety. To practice radical politics and culture are not affected by the Nimby syndrome or psychosis catastrophe, but there are alternatives, as proposed by the same Aeneas: energy efficiency, alternative energy research.
So repeat the question: should the nuclear? Fixes?
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