Experts around the world believe that the production of safe and clean energy is possible through collaboration of all energy sources, of which nuclear energy constitutes a significant proportion.  The specialists in the sphere are convinced that leading countries use clean and safe technologies to produce nuclear energy. Nonetheless, the complete success requires harmony between the energy sources. 

Mediamax talked to Director of World Nuclear Association Agneta Rising and Head of World Nuclear University Patricia Wieland on current issues of nuclear energy, right way of its development in various countries and the potential in sphere. 

The main challenges in nuclear energy

Agneta Rising: “The main challenge in nuclear energy is regulation of investments. First of all, we need to provide proper investment environment, as it’s important to take into account all the benefits of nuclear energy while attracting investments.

I am worried about the possible insufficient progress in carbonized electricity. However, we need to manage to reduce the carbon emissions. 

Another challenge is bringing nuclear energy to new countries, making it efficient with a patchwork of regulations in different countries.

I can’t say that developing nuclear energy would be good for every country, but they can always find international sopport. You don’t need so many people in the field of nuclear energy: one can work on several sites at the same time and perfectly manage them.” 

Patricia Wieland: “Unfortunately, the social-political situation influences science. Countries must have good budget for research centers and universities, and politicians should make sure that science and technology remain a priority. Maybe this is the biggest challenge in science, particularly in nuclear physics. 

Patricia Wieland

Photo: Mediamax

We have something very interesting in the nuclear area, called international networking and cooperation. One of the challenges in nuclear energy is public acceptance; everyone should communicate about nuclear energy and use the social media to talk about the real life benefits of nuclear technologies.”

Safe and green

Agneta Rising: “The best way of convincing people that nuclear energy is safe is to look at the history and ask ourselves: “When the government says we have to have no carbon future, what kind of options are there for stable electricity, which delivers 24 hours a day, has low cost over the lifetime? Will we be able to manage these options? Then you’ll see that nuclear energy comes out as a very good example. If you observe all different aspects that could be detrimental to the environment and safety record, you can see that nuclear energy is among the safest in the industry.” 

Patricia Wieland: “Nuclear is already green, so research must be based on technologies. Nuclear scientists need to work on new materials, since the industry is growing very fast and it is looking for solutions nuclear area can offer. We can work together with other industries as well.”

The harmony of energy sources

Agneta Rising: “We need a harmony and joint efforts with providers of other energy sources so that we can have a better energy mix and a better world in the future. It’s our common problem, because too much emissions and air pollution prevail in the world. We also have to understand how we can optimize the system to use each energy source for benefits of different countries and on a global scale. Nuclear energy has a very important role in some countries, while others are good for solar energy, so it’s different. We need to optimize the system and make it reliable for people, safe for nature and people’s health at the same time. Our vision for the future is to have a harmony beetwen all energy sourses, bring all sourses together in a smart way.”

Agneta Rising

Photo: Mediamax

Scinetists and smart technologies 

Patricia Wieland: “There’re many programs in the universities preparing nuclear specialized professionals, but nuclear power plant not only needs nuclear engineers, but it also includes all other areas: international relations, economists, all sorts of professions.

There are many studies, but those are not going to produce results soon, while nuclear fission should be a total viable option. Today we have different types of reactors that use nuclear fission, and the research in many of those reactors is about finding best cooling system, as well as auxiliary systems.” 

Agneta Rising: “Many scientists can bring smart technologies in nuclear energy. You can develop it, send specialists to other universities, train people, get experience from abroad. 

It is time to start planning nuclear energy with different countries discussing, training people, involving young generation in this field. Young people simply love to work with this technology. They sometimes said at trainings: “Please, can you give us a reactor? We want to operate now and build it in our country now.” So I think they are very interested.”

Marie Taryan