Climate Change and Nuclear Energy
Potential Applications for Alberta
Introduction
The presentation to the Canadian Institute of Energy began with an introduction to climate change and the status of the National Climate Change Process (NCCP). Nuclear industry participation in the NCCP provided economic analysis of reduced greenhouse gas emission electricity production in Canada and Alberta. A brief introduction to the use of nuclear process energy and heat in the form of steam and hydrogen to extract and upgrade heavy oil from Alberta's tar sand deposits followed. The possibility of using greenhouse gas free nuclear energy to establish a carbon sink was presented. This example introduced the possible use of nuclear power plants to pump water up from Alberta's great northern rivers to southern Alberta. In concept, this water could irrigate growing crops to enhance carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere. The great pumping cost suggested there could be better ways to utilize the energy at this time.
It was concluded that conservation and increased efficiency of energy use would not suffice to stem greenhouse gas increases. Alternate energy, perhaps even increased energy use, would be needed to manage greenhouse gas emissions.
The complete presentation is provided here in the form of a PowerPoint slide show with explanatory notes. (DRP 04/03/06)