Physics (Internal)

Future Prospects for Nuclear Power after Fukushima

This event is part of the Physics Department Colloquia Series.

Nuclear is a high-intensity energy source with a practically unlimited fuel availability and a long record of excellent safety. However, the 3/11/11 accident at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan has changed the perception of nuclear as a safe energy source. In this presentation we will (a) provide a brief description of the accident, (b) review the lessons learned from the accident, and (c) discuss their regulatory/design implications on the current reactor fleet as well as the next generation of Light Water Reactors. We will also discuss the future prospects of nuclear power, in particular a new paradigm in which nuclear energy can be used to displace large amounts of fossil fuels (and their related CO₂ emissions) from the transportation sector, thus helping to combat climate change and curb the growth of energy product imports.