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Computare
Role of Nuclear Energy in Kyoto – and Beyond
•2010 Kyoto target date very tight for any expansion
–Nuclear plants at peak production in early nineties
–Avoiding about 100 Mt/year relative to coal then
–Essentially limited to making best use of existing plants
•Post 2010 allows time for a nuclear contribution
–expanded electricity production
–expanded use of electricity
–process heating applications
–application to transport
Canada’s nuclear plants were avoiding about 100 million tonnes of CO2 annually in the early 1990’s as Darlington was completed. This contribution has declined in recent years as some units have been shut down for maintenance. We anticipate that most of these will be back in operation in time to make a significant contribution should Canada ratify Kyoto. Putting new nuclear plants into operation before 2010 would require Herculean effort and would displace existing electricity generating capability which has not reached it’s planned end of life.
A commitment to Kyoto implies the need for additional greenhouse gas  reduction activity after 2010. A longer time period allows for the development of infrastructure which would allow for the expanded use of greenhouse gas  free nuclear energy sources. Direct use of nuclear process heat has not been applied in Canada to date. Greenhouse gas free electricity has the potential for more use in industry and in transportation.