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Expand nuclear power capability, says oil and gas group

Wednesday, 17 October 2007

All economic energy sources, including nuclear, will be needed in the period to 2030, according to a committee representing the US oil and natural gas industries.

The National Petroleum Council (NPC) says that the US should support work on advanced nuclear reactors and fulfil existing federal commitments on waste management to ensure the technical and industrial capabilities of its nuclear industry are expanded.

Facing the Hard Truths about Energy looks at the period to 2030 and was prepared by the NPC after US energy secretary Sam Bodman requested a study on the ability of global oil and natural gas supply to keep pace with growing demand. NPC is a federally chartered and privately funded advisory committee representing the views of the oil and natural gas industries to the US Secretary of Energy. It is not involved with what it describes as "trade association activities".

Drawing heavily on statistics and forecasts from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), the report concludes that the world is not running out of energy resources, but that expansion of all economic energy sources will be required, including coal, nuclear, renewables, and unconventional oil and natural gas resources.

Unsurprisingly, the main thrust of the report focuses on fossil fuels. However, the NPC points to the likelihood of nuclear playing an expanded future role if carbon dioxide emission constraints come to figure in energy policy decisions. With that in mind, NPC said, nuclear energy must remain viable over the 25 years considered in its study, both to meet projected demand and to reduce emissions.

It recommends that the technical and industrial capabilities of the USA nuclear energy industry be expanded and specifically calls for $2 billion of funding over ten years for "demonstration of one to two new advanced nuclear facilities," as set out in the National Commission on Energy Policy, to be implemented. It also recommends that existing federal commitments on nuclear waste management be fulfilled. This would have the potential to increase US leadership capability, according to the NPC report, which goes on to note that "maintaining a viable nuclear energy option will increase policy choices in future carbon constrained circumstances."

The report also identifies what it calls a "severe human resource challenge" facing the entire energy industry as people are not entering the workforce at a sufficient rate to balance upcoming retirements. It makes a number of recommendations to address the looming skills gap, including extra support for students studying engineering and technical subjects, making it easier for retirees to continue in employment, and increasing student and immigration quotas for trained energy and technical professionals.

Further information

NationalPetroleum Council : Facing the Hard Truths about Energy:

WNA's US Nuclear Power Industryinformation paper

WNN: Energyexperts needed as skills gap looms