Fossil consumption growth

Another limitation for further development of the traditional BN type reactors may be due to the current electricity market structure. When electricity consumption growth rate is slow, the demand for large capacity nuclear power plants (NPPs) will be limited also. Meanwhile, small NPPs could be used not only for gradual increase of the generating capacity but for the replacement of the outdated fossil fuel and nuclear power plants (such replacement is often referred to as renovation). The reactor installations with an installed capacity of 300 MW(e) could be used both to replace large-scale NPPs and for autonomous operation within small local grids. The latter may have even small capacity requirements and, therefore, smaller versions of the BN GT plant (down to 5 MW(e)) are being examined currently. 

The possibilities of new sources of energy, such as energy from hydrogen, may also some day become economical, and help to uncouple fossil fuel consumption from economic growth... 

The necessity to satisfy the growth in consumption leads to an increase in the use of natural resources. Between 1960 and 1995 the global use of mineral raw materials increased by a factor of 2.5 metals 2.1, wood 2.3, and synthetic materials 5.6. This increase considerably exceeded the growth in population size, despite its extreme nonuniformity. For instance, the U.S.A. whose population constitutes about 5% of the world s consumes about one-fourth of the global resources of fossil fuel. The U.S.A.,... 

China alone will contribute a quarter of the increase in C02 emissions or 3.6 billion tons, bringing its total emissions to 6.7 billion tons per year in 2030. However, Chinese emissions will still be well below those of the USA. A projected increase in fossil fuel consumption is largely responsible for fast-paced growth in C02 emissions. Of the fossil fuels, coal and oil account currently for the major part of the total energy-related C02 emissions. Factors such as population growth, rising personal incomes, improved standards of living, and further industrialization are expected to have a... 

During the twentieth century, fossil fuels were the major driving force for economic growth in the world. In particular, a cheap and abundant oil supply has brought North America tremendous economic benefits, a profusion of products, and a high quality of life. However, consumption of fossil fuels on an ever-expanding scale has also led to adverse changes in... 

The concluding fifth chapter compares the energy options available to mankind. It provides quantitative data on the present trends of C02 emissions, energy consumption and population growth and on the consequences of continued reliance on exhaustible (fossil and nuclear) energy sources. I also explain why dependence on thermal nuclear energy is likely to lead to dependence on plutonium-fueled breeder reactors. The chapter calculates the costs and time needed to convert to a totally renewable energy economy and also discusses the consequences of inaction. 

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