Agneta Rising is the Director-General of the World Nuclear Association. She was Vice President of Environment at Sweden’s state power board Vattenfall AB, where she headed a pan-European department focused on energy, environment and sustainability.
Over the past two decades, Agneta Rising has been appointed by the Swedish government, the EU Commission and the International Atomic Energy Agency to several significant expert and advisory positions relevant to the safety and future development of nuclear power. Among these, Ms. Rising served for four years on the IAEA’s International Nuclear Safety Group. She was awarded the Atoms for Peace Prize in 2013.
1. The SIEW theme for this year is “Global Energy Transitions”. What is your view on the transitions and changes impacting the nuclear energy landscape?
We are in a period of radical and conflicting energy transitions. As the global population grows and new major economies emerge, the world’s consumption of electricity is dramatically increasing. An energy mix dominated by fossil fuels is currently meeting this demand, but we are at the start of a process that must transition us to an affordable low carbon energy mix.
In such an energy landscape, the potential for nuclear energy is clear. A substantial increase in nuclear electricity supply features strongly in the future energy strategies of key countries such as China and India. Reports and studies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), World Energy Council (WEC) and the joint International Energy Agency (IEA) and OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) also indicate that doubling the electricity supplied from nuclear generation to consumers by 2050 is a common proposal to meet these needs.
Currently, there are around 70 nuclear reactors under construction – the highest number in 25 years. However, if nuclear is going to make the kind of contribution that future sustainable energy scenarios require, then the pace of nuclear construction must increase.
2. What has been the effect of volatile global energy prices on the commercial viability of nuclear energy projects?
Nuclear energy is amongst the most cost-effective forms of electricity generation, as its operating costs are low and predictable. However, volatility in energy prices is leading investors in deregulated markets to be conservative and to prioritise short-term returns over more environmentally sustainable and economically sound long-term investments.
It is not a situation that is affecting just nuclear energy – currently, investment in any major energy infrastructure is challenging in deregulated markets.
Nevertheless, we ultimately expect a reaction against this volatility, promoted by concerns over security of supply and higher carbon emission pricing. Operating and fuel costs for nuclear generation are a relatively small component of overall generation costs, meaning that the long-term predictable and affordable nature of nuclear generation will become increasingly attractive.
3. Many nuclear power plants are expected to be developed in Asia in the coming decades. In your view, what would be the key challenges and how can countries work together to address nuclear safety?
An expanding role for nuclear energy is an important element of the energy strategies of many Asian countries— both those already using nuclear energy today and those looking to use it in the future.
It is vital that countries planning to use nuclear generation in the future invest in the skills that will be required for construction, operation and regulation, so that they are ready to start and can benefit from the job creation opportunities that will arise.
In Asia, just as is the case elsewhere, nuclear plants operate within the toughest of regulatory environments to ensure safety. Complementing this, inspections by WANO help to achieve the highest possible standards of nuclear safety. The global nuclear industry works together through organisations like the World Nuclear Association to build on best practices and reinforce a sound safety culture.
4. What options are available to dispose of nuclear waste to minimise environmental impact?
Waste from the nuclear fuel cycle has amongst the lowest environmental impacts of any form of electricity generation, as lower activity waste storage and disposal sites are already in operation.
For final disposal of high level and long-lived waste, there is strong scientific agreement that deep geological repositories would be a very effective method. Good progress is being made on the first of these repositories. In Finland, the radiation and nuclear safety authority has given its backing to the construction of a final repository and waste encapsulation plant.
Other countries are moving forward with similar plans. In the meantime, used nuclear fuel takes up a relatively small amount of space and can be stored in fuel ponds or in dry storage on site. Alternatively, used nuclear fuel can be recycled, producing new fuel and helping to minimise waste volumes.
5. What are your views on new and emerging nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs)?
There is a lot of potential for innovation in nuclear technologies. SMRs could help deploy nuclear generation in new or remote locations where megawatt-scale reactors may not yet be suitable.
New technologies will also offer more options for fuel supply, allowing new fuel types and greater recycling of used fuel. These technologies will also broaden the range of applications of nuclear energy – from desalination to high-temperature process heat.
Nevertheless, today’s modern reactors feature innovations and refinements developed through more than fifty years of operational experience. These technological developments will be used in reactors in operation and under construction around the world alongside emerging designs such as SMRs.