Energy policy and nuclear power in the European Union

1
Energy policy and nuclear power in the European
Union

• Derek M. Taylor/José A. Hoyos
• Nuclear energy, nuclear safety
• European Commission

2
Energy security in the European Union

• Energy policy in the European Union is the
  responsibility of the individual Member States.
• The nearest thing to a European energy policy is
  the Green Paper on the security of energy supply
  that was first published in November 2000
• There was then an intensive period of debate
  until end-February 2002
• The Commission adopted its final report on the
  Green Paper in June 2002

3
Important conclusions of the Green Paper include
..

• The European Union is consuming more and more
  energy - and importing more and more energy
  products.
• External dependence for energy is constantly
  increasing.
• If no measures are taken, in the next 20 to
  30 years 70 of the Union's energy requirements
  will be covered by imports.
• At present 45 of oil imports come from the
  Middle East and 40 of natural gas from Russia

4
Renewables - a political priority

• In last 15 years steady increase in energy
  production from renewables (around 30)
• Increase in the wind sector has been spectacular
  (2000 in 10 years)
• BUT
• Targets for steadily increasing the share of
  renewables have never been achieved
• latest target is 12 of total energy by 2010
• 30 increase is insignificant in absolute terms
• They cost more than conventional fuels

5
The future role of nuclear

• According to the Green Paper, the future of
  nuclear depends on factors beyond energy demand
  including
• a solution to the problems of managing nuclear
  waste,
• the economic viability of the new generation of
  power stations
• the safety of reactors in Eastern Europe, in
  particular applicant countries
• policies to combat global warming.

6
Essential questions for nuclear

• Many of the factors that will impact on nuclear
  future are in the hands of industry, utilities or
  politicians.
• However, the European Commission believes that
  three essential questions for nuclear energy
  can be addressed at EU level
• Can the Community
• help develop fusion technology and reactors for
  the future
• reinforce nuclear safety and
• find a solution to the problem of nuclear waste?

7
Fusion technology and new reactors

• The largest Community contribution to nuclear
  research is into fusion technology
• the annual spend is around 160 million
• not a short term solution
• if all goes well the next research reactor could
  be operating in 2020 (though a site has yet to be
  agreed)
• the first electricity producing reactor possible
  by 2050 ..
• Research into fission reactors
• Community research only a few million /year
• Commission involved in Generation IV activity
• activity is, and should be, industry led and
  driven

8
Reinforcing nuclear safety

• Nuclear safety not clearly defined as a Community
  responsibility in EURATOM Treaty
• However, there is a significant body of
  legislation centred around basic safety standards
  (BSS) for radiation protection
• Over 25 years of co-operation and collaboration
  in the EU slow road to harmonisation
• In 2000, the European Council undertook a
  detailed study of nuclear safety in the
  Candidate Countries

9
EU reaches consensus on nuclear safety

• For the first time, with the report of the
  Council, the EU reached a consensus on the level
  of nuclear safety in a sovereign State in fact
  several States.
• Many asked question - why not perform a similar
  review inside the EU?
• Also, the question was raised are 15 - and soon
  to be 25 - States each with their own safety
  standards a good guarantee of safety EU-wide?
  Will the Public retain confidence in 25 sets of
  standards?
• In 2001 the European Heads of Government at the
  Laeken Summit concluded .

10
The Laeken Summit conclusions on nuclear safety
in the EU

• The European Council undertakes to maintain a
  high level of nuclear safety in the Union.
• It stresses the need to monitor the security and
  safety of nuclear power stations.
• It calls for regular reports from Member States'
  atomic energy experts, who will maintain close
  contact with the Commission.

11
Decision of the European Court of Justice on
nuclear safety

• On 10 December 2002, the Court ruled that there
  is Community competence in the following areas
• the establishment of a legislative and regulatory
  framework to govern the safety of nuclear
  installations
• measures relating to the assessment and
  verification of safety
• emergency preparedness
• the siting of a nuclear installation and
• the design, construction and operation of nuclear
  installations.
• This opened path to greater harmonisation of
  safety

12
Proposal for new EU legislation on nuclear safety

• On 30 January 2003, the Commission adopted a
  proposal for a Directive Defining the basic
  obligations and general principles for the safety
  of nuclear installations 
• This Directive covers the safety of ALL nuclear
  installations
• It includes a section on decommissioning funds
  for nuclear installations

13
The Safety Directive

• Uses the Nuclear Safety Convention as starting
  point and makes its provisions binding on Member
  States
• Proposes the eventual development of common
  safety standards for EU
• work closely with experts from Member States
• take fully into account work of IAEA
• Verifications (not inspections) of nuclear
  safety in the EU - to include regular reporting
  by Member States and peer reviews

14
Radioactive waste - an issue it is vital to
resolve

• Irrespective of future strategies, waste must be
  dealt with safely.
• Responsibility of managing the growing quantities
  of spent fuel and waste must not be passed on to
  future generations.
• Current policies in most EU States and the
  candidate countries do not adequately address
  waste issues.
• This situation is not sustainable.
• What in the past might have been regarded as
  technical reasons for delaying decisions have now
  become excuses for failing to make progress.

15
Present situation with waste in the EU

• The 15 Member States of the EU generate around
  40,000 m3 per year
• Most of this is being disposed of.
• Five Member States (Finland, France, Spain,
  Sweden and UK) are currently disposing of low and
  intermediate-level waste (LILW) in surface or
  near surface repositories.
• Germany has disposed of such wastes in the past.
• But other States with nuclear power programmes,
  Belgium and the Netherlands, do not yet have
  disposal sites for LILW.
• However, no EU Member State - or adhesion State -
  has authorised a site for disposal of high-level
  waste - only Finland has identified a site.

16
Proposal for new EU legislation on radioactive
waste

• The proposed Directive The management of spent
  nuclear fuel and radioactive waste - was adopted
  by the European Commission on 30 January 2003.
• The emphasis of the Directive is on high-level
  waste including spent nuclear fuel that is to
  be disposed of directly but it does cover all
  forms of radioactive waste
• It also covers all spent nuclear fuel regardless
  of the management route followed (reprocessing,
  storage or direct disposal).

17
The Waste Directive

• Was inspired by the Joint Convention on the safe
  management of spent fuel and radioactive waste
• It requires each Member State to establish a
  clearly defined programme for radioactive waste
  management covering all radioactive waste under
  its jurisdiction and covering all stages of
  management including disposal.
• The programme shall specify an approach to
  long-term management and disposal with a definite
  timetable for each step of the process.

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Decision points ---- or deadlines

• authorisation for development of appropriate
  disposal site(s) to be granted no later than
  2008. In the case of geological disposal of
  high-level and long-lived waste, this
  authorisation could be conditional upon a further
  period of detailed underground study
• in the case of short-lived low and
  intermediate-level waste, if this is to be
  disposed of separately from high-level and
  long-lived waste, authorisation for operation of
  the disposal facility to be granted no later than
  2013
• in the case of high-level and long-lived waste,
  to be disposed of in a geological repository,
  authorisation for operation of the disposal
  facility to be granted no later than 2018.

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Other important points of the Waste Directive

• Clearly indicates that geological disposal is the
  safe and sustainable option for long term waste
  management
• Allows exports of spent fuel and waste to third
  countries - but under very strict conditions
• allows for regional repositories
• does not allow dumping in countries that could
  not manage waste safely
• Encourage more RD
• including into technologies that would result in
  less waste

20
Summary of main objectives of new nuclear
legislation in EU

• The new legislation should help to guarantee
  higher standards of nuclear safety in a larger
  European Union
• It will promote the development of common
  standards and good practices and establish a
  system of verification throughout the EU
• It will require the establishment of segregated
  funds that will cover all nuclear liabilities
  that remain at the end of life of nuclear
  installations, including for the management of
  the spent nuclear fuel and waste
• It will require Member States to establish
  clearly defined programmes for waste management,
  including a firm time scale for disposal, and
  encourage a higher level - and better
  co-ordinated - research across the Union.

21
Some final thoughts ...

• The future of the nuclear sector is very much in
  the hands of industry. If the technology is
  clean, safe and competitive it should succeed.
• Vice-President De Palacio has gone clearly on
  record insisting that the nuclear option must
  remain open if we are to have energy security in
  the EU and meet our Kyoto targets.
• The new nuclear initiatives do not specifically
  promote the use of nuclear energy - but they
  should create the right environment in which it
  can be used safely by those wishing to do so.