It is a widely accepted fact that fossil fuels, the world’s primary source for energy, negatively affect the environment by emitting greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. At the same time, as world population and development levels continue to increase, energy demand is also on the rise. Taken together, these facts are prompting countries to turn towards renewable energy sources, particularly nuclear, due to its overall low carbon emissions and high capacity factor. While it is important to note the economic, social, and political barriers associated with nuclear power development, the dimension of accessibility to reliable water supply for coolant is an emerging and relevant challenge, especially in the Middle East and Asia, as they are already experiencing the effects of climate change. Coolant is vital to nuclear facilities, as demonstrated by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, so plants are located near rivers or bodies of water that guarantee continuous flow. The only exception to this is the Palo Verde nuclear power plant in the Arizona desert, which uses treated wastewater as its main source of coolant. Given future environmental changes and increasing energy demand, unless countries pursue nuclear power and innovative alternatives like the Palo Verde plant, climate change will continue to worsen and grids will not be able to meet demand. This paper will begin by introducing the climate situation, followed by explaining the tension between water and nuclear energy. Bangladesh and Jordan will be presented case studies in how climate change, water, and nuclear energy intersect, and lastly will present the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station as a model system that could aid other countries in bypassing the problem of water supply.
Year
2020
Abstract