MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENT

DEPARTMENT OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

PLOT 29/33, AMBER HOUSE

KAMPALA ROAD

P.O BOX 7270, KAMPALA.

A REPORT ON NUCLEAR POWER GENERATION SUBMITTED TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF NUCLEAR ENERGY

(Ms. SUUBI RACHEAL)

COMPILED BY

KASORO GEORGE WILLIAM MUJUNI

STUDENT INTERN FROM KYAMBOGO

UNIVERSITY

(BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING)

Table of Contents
ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................................. 3
1.0 Introduction to Nuclear Energy and Renewable Energy Sources. ........................................... 3
1.1 Nuclear energy ............................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Renewable Energy Sources .......................................................................................................... 3
2.0 Nuclear fuel cycle and environmental impacts. ......................................................................... 5
2.1 Uranium mining and milling......................................................................................................... 5
2.2 Conversion ................................................................................................................................... 5
2.3 Uranium enrichment ................................................................................................................... 5
2.4 Fuel fabrication............................................................................................................................. 5
2.5 Nuclear power generation .......................................................................................................... 6
2.6 Spent fuel storage and disposal .................................................................................................. 6
2.7. Radioactive waste disposal .......................................................................................................... 6
3.0 Comparative analysis of nuclear energy and other renewable energy sources. .................. 7
3.1 Fuel Availability and Dependence ............................................................................................... 7
3.2 Power Generation Capacity ......................................................................................................... 7
3.3 Land and Resource Requirements ............................................................................................... 7
3.4 Waste Management and Safety .................................................................................................. 7
3.5 Cost effectiveness......................................................................................................................... 7
4.0 Emerging advancements in the nuclear industry. ..................................................................... 8
5.0 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................... 9
6.0 References ....................................................................................................................................... 9

Table of figures
Figure 1: renewable energy sources .........................................................................................................4
Figure 2: nuclear fuel cycle ............................................................................................................................5
Figure 3: an SFR ...................................................................................................................................................8
ABSTRACT
This research report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of nuclear energy in comparison with other
renewable energy sources, examines the nuclear fuel cycle and its environmental impacts at each stage
and explores emerging advancements in the nuclear industry. The findings of this study will shed light on
the environmental aspects of nuclear energy and its potential role in the future energy landscape.

1.0 Introduction to Nuclear Energy and Renewable Energy Sources.

1.1 Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is the energy released from the splitting or fusing of atomic nuclei. This energy
can be produced in two ways; nuclear fission which involves splitting the nucleus of a heavy,
unstable atom into two or more smaller, stable nuclei and nuclear fusion which involves joining
of smaller, unstable nuclei to form a heavy, stable nucleus.

Nuclear energy has been utilized for several decades and is known for its high energy density and
continuous power generation. It is considered a reliable and efficient source of electricity, capable
of producing large amounts of energy without the emission of greenhouse gases during power
generation. Nuclear power plants operate continuously and can provide baseload power to the
electrical grid, ensuring a stable and consistent energy supply.

Some of the applications of nuclear energy are mentioned below.

 Electricity Generation: Nuclear power plants generate electricity by utilizing the heat
produced during nuclear fission to generate steam, which drives turbines connected to
generators thus producing electricity.
 Desalination: Nuclear energy can be used to power large-scale desalination plants, where
seawater is converted into freshwater by removing salt and impurities.
 Space Exploration: Nuclear power has been used in space missions to provide electricity
for spacecraft and deep-space probes. Radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs)
use the heat generated by the decay of radioactive isotopes to produce electrical power
in remote and harsh environments.

1.2 Renewable Energy Sources

Renewable energy sources are naturally replenishing resources that are virtually inexhaustible on
human timescales. Unlike fossil fuels which deplete over time, renewable energy sources can be
harnessed without significantly depleting or harming the environment. They play a crucial role in
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and combating climate change.
Examples of Renewable Energy Sources and their applications are stated as follows.
 Figure 1: renewable energy sources

 Solar Energy: Solar power harnesses the energy from the sun using photovoltaic (PV) cells to
convert sunlight directly into electricity. Solar panels can be installed on rooftops or in large-
scale solar farms to generate electricity for homes, businesses and the electrical grid.
 Wind Energy: Wind farms, consisting of multiple turbines, are deployed in areas with consistent
wind patterns to generate significant amounts of renewable energy. The turbines rotate capture
the kinetic energy of the wind and convert it into electricity.
 Hydroelectric energy: Dams or other structures are built to capture the energy of free-falling
water, which drives turbines connected to generators. Hydropower is a mature and widely used
renewable energy source, with large-scale hydroelectric plants supplying electricity to
communities and industries.
 Geothermal Energy: It involves tapping into geothermal reservoirs, where hot water or steam is
naturally present, and using it to drive turbines connected to generators. Geothermal power
plants are typically located in geologically active areas with accessible geothermal resources.
 Biomass Energy: Biomass energy utilizes organic matter such as agricultural residues, wood
pellets, or dedicated energy crops to produce heat or electricity. Biomass can be burned directly
or converted into biogas or biofuels. It is often used for heating buildings or generating
electricity in dedicated biomass power plants.
 2.0 Nuclear fuel cycle and environmental impacts.

Figure 2: nuclear fuel cycle

2.1 Uranium mining and milling

Uranium ore is extracted from the Earth's crust by mining and then crushed and chemically treated to
produce a yellow cake known as uranium oxide (U3O6).

Surface or open-pit mining methods can lead to habitat destruction, soil erosion and release of dust,
metals, and other pollutants into the surrounding environment. Underground mining can also have
similar impacts including the potential for water contamination. Milling process produces a waste
called tailings which contain radioactive materials and pose environmental risks such as potential
groundwater contamination if not properly managed.

2.2 Conversion
Uranium oxide is combined with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and fluorine gas to form uranium
hexafluoride (UF6) which is gaseous in nature. Environmental impacts include natural resource
depletion, exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals and pollution of air and water.

2.3 Uranium enrichment

The uranium is enriched to increase concentration of fissile isotopes, primarily uranium-235. The
dominant enrichment method, gas centrifugation, consumes a significant amount of energy. While
the environmental impact of enrichment is mainly associated with energy consumption, the process
itself does not generate substantial waste or emissions.

2.4 Fuel fabrication

At this stage, enriched uranium hexafluoride is converted to powdered uranium dioxide (UO 2) and
heated to form hard ceramic pellets which are then loaded into fuel rods or assemblies for use in
nuclear reactors. The fabrication process typically involves the use of chemicals and energy-intensive
 processes. The environmental impacts at this stage are primarily related to resource consumption,
waste generation, and potential chemical releases if not managed properly.

2.5 Nuclear power generation

Uranium-235 splits and produces a lot of heat in controlled chain reactions which is used to generate
steam that drives turbines of a generator thus producing electricity. During the operation of nuclear
power plants, the environmental impacts are relatively low in terms of greenhouse gas emissions.
However, there are concerns related to the potential for accidents or meltdowns, which can lead to
severe environmental and public health consequences. Safety measures, strict regulations, and
robust operational practices are crucial to minimize these risks.

2.6 Spent fuel storage and disposal

Fuel used in reactors becomes spent and is highly radioactive thus, it is first cooled in a spent fuel
pool. After cooling, it is either reprocessed to make mixed oxide fuel or disposed of. Currently, most
countries store spent fuel in on-site storage facilities which poses challenges including the need for
secure containment to prevent leaks or unauthorized access. Reprocessing, an alternative
approach, is aimed to extract usable materials from spent fuel. However, reprocessing raises
proliferation concerns and generates additional waste streams that require careful management.

2.7. Radioactive waste disposal

Low-level and intermediate-level waste is typically stored in specialized facilities designed to isolate
and contain the waste for extended periods. High-level waste, which is highly radioactive and long-
lasting, requires deep geological repositories for safe disposal. The main environmental concern in
this stage is the potential for leaks of radioactive materials into the environment which can
contaminate soil, water and ecosystems.
3.0 Comparative analysis of nuclear energy and other renewable energy sources.
Nuclear energy and renewable energy sources are two distinct forms of energy production with
different characteristics and considerations. Weighing of the two energies is done according to
several factors as stated below.

3.1 Fuel Availability and Dependence

Nuclear energy relies on uranium or plutonium as fuel, which are non-renewable resources while
renewable energy is derived from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, and water which are
abundantly available and do not deplete over time.

3.2 Power Generation Capacity

Nuclear power plants can provide large-scale power generation and operate consistently at a high
output level while the power generation capacity of renewable sources varies based on weather
conditions like sunlight or wind availability.

3.3 Land and Resource Requirements

Nuclear power plants require relatively small land areas but have significant safety and waste
management considerations while renewable energy systems such as solar panels and wind
turbines require larger land areas to achieve significant power generation. However, they
generally have fewer safety concerns and lower environmental impacts during operation.

3.4 Waste Management and Safety

Nuclear energy generates radioactive waste that requires careful management and disposal over
long periods of time. The safety and security of nuclear power plants and potential for accidents
or meltdowns are critical concerns. While renewable energy sources have minimal waste
generation during operation. However, the production and disposal of certain renewable
technologies like solar panels and wind turbine blades can present some environmental
challenges.

3.5 Cost effectiveness

The construction and maintenance costs of nuclear power plants can be high, including expenses
related to safety measures, waste management and decommissioning while the operational and
maintenance costs of renewable energy technologies such as solar and wind have been
decreasing significantly in recent years.
4.0 Emerging advancements in the nuclear industry.

Figure 3: an SFR

Sodium-cooled Fission Reactors or sodium-cooled fast reactors (SFRs) are a type of nuclear reactor design
that uses liquid sodium as the coolant instead of water. These reactors operate by utilizing fast neutrons
to sustain a nuclear chain reaction, which results in efficient utilization of fuel and the potential for higher
energy output compared to conventional water-cooled reactors.
The fast neutron spectrum has a better ability to separate uranium-238 which is not possible in light
water reactors that use a thermal neutron spectrum which only has the ability to separate uranium-235.

Sodium-cooled fission reactors have several advantages. The high heat transfer properties of liquid
sodium allow for effective cooling of the reactor core, enabling operation at higher temperatures. This
can lead to increased thermal efficiency and the potential for cogeneration of electricity and process
heat. SFRs can also utilize a breed-and-burn approach, where the reactor produces more fissile material
than it consumes, potentially enhancing fuel utilization and reducing waste. The only challenge faced is
that sodium is reactive to different materials and hence consideration for materials used in the reactor
should be taken keenly.

Regarding the development status of sodium-cooled fission reactors, multiple countries have conducted
research and development and some notable examples as mentioned below.
I. Russia has a long history of sodium-cooled reactor development. The BN-series reactors, such as
BN-600 and BN-800, have been operational for electricity generation. These reactors serve as
prototypes for the larger-scale BN-1200 and BN-1600 reactors, which are currently under
development. Russia also has plans for the BREST-300, a lead-cooled fast reactor, which is a variant
of the sodium-cooled design.
II. China has been actively pursuing the development of sodium-cooled fast reactors. The Chinese
Experimental Fast Reactor (CEFR) in Beijing, a 65 MW prototype, began operation in 2011 and has
been used for research and development purposes. China is also planning to build a larger
 commercial-scale sodium-cooled fast reactor, the CFR-600, which is expected to begin construction
in the near future.

5.0 Conclusion
It is crucial to note that both nuclear energy and renewable energy sources have their advantages
and challenges. The choice of energy sources depends on various factors including geographical
location, resource availability, energy demand, and policy considerations. A diverse energy mix
that combines both nuclear and renewable sources, along with energy efficiency measures, can
provide a sustainable and reliable energy system while minimizing environmental impact

As technology continues to evolve, it is essential to prioritize research and development in both

nuclear and renewable energy sectors. This will contribute to the ongoing quest for cleaner, more
efficient, and sustainable energy solutions that can meet the growing global energy demand while
preserving our environment for future generations.

6.0 References
 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) - Official website: https://www.iaea.org/
 World Nuclear Association (WNA) - Official website: https://www.world-nuclear.org/
 International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) - Official website: https://www.irena.org/
 National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - Official website: https://www.nrel.gov/