Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Electric Power Sector and Their Abatement due to Russian NPP Projects

Abstract

The scope of problems connected with the need to continuously improving the consideration of constraints pertinent to development of the power sector and environment protection technologies is outlined. The aim of the study is to assess the contribution of the nuclear power industry in the abatement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The following has been done in pursuance of this aim: the power generation technologies have been subjected to a comparative analysis in terms of GHG emissions per kW∙h of generated electricity based on a review of large-scale investigations performed around the world, and the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions due to operation of nuclear power plants equipped with VVER-type water-cooled water-moderated power-generating reactors constructed using the technologies developed in Russia (Soviet Union) has been evaluated. Different types of power plants are considered in the investigation in regard of the quantitative characteristics of GHG emissions from the power plants throughout their life cycle (LC) per kilowatt-hour of produced electricity. It should be pointed out that a holistic approach to evaluating the amount of GHG emissions throughout the entire LC of the generation technology including its fuel cycle is of paramount importance, which is substantiated in the relevant ISO and IAEA documents. The study encompasses assessment of hydro- and nuclear power plants, thermal power plants utilizing coal and gas, as well as various renewable energy sources operating on the energy of wind, sun, biomass, and geothermal water. The GHG emissions from NPPs are considered for different power plant LC stages. The article presents the results from calculations of the GHG emissions abatement due to operation of NPPs in Russia and abroad in the period from 1954--2014 for nuclear power plants constructed according to the Russian (Soviet Union's) technologies of VVER-type reactors. The data on the actual amounts of electricity generated at VVER-type NPPs in Armenia, Bulgaria, China, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Russia, Slovakia, and Ukraine were retrieved from the database available in the IAEA Power Reactor Information System (PRIS). It is pointed out that there is some uncertainty in evaluating the amount of GHG emissions produced during the LC for different generation technologies, which is stemming from the use of non-harmonized methods for estimating GHG emissions. An approach implying consideration of GHG emissions for the entire LC is believed to be promising for a holistic comparative analysis of different power generation technologies in terms of their influence on the environment and climate. In this connection, developing a unified methodology for assessing GHG emissions and obtaining more precise data on GHG emissions at different LC stages of power plants of different types seem to be a topical issue. The performed comparative analysis of generation technologies in terms of GHG emissions throughout the LC has demonstrated that NPPs are advantageous in this respect over the majority of power generation technologies based on the use of conventional hydrocarbon fuels and renewable sources of energy.