“India needs to take proactive steps to accelerate deployment of nuclear energy both within the country and outside”

Concerns related to global warming are getting intense with every passing day. Desirable goal of limiting warming to within 1.5⁰ C above pre-industrial levels seems nowhere in sight and is likely to be breached sooner than later. There is increasing evidence that without a significant contribution from nuclear energy, this goal would be unaffordable and unlikely to be realized. A climate apartheid has been predicted to be imminent where only the rich would survive.

For a country like India, which has the maximum unmet energy needs, nuclear and solar are the only two energy sources available on Indian land mass (gas hydrates would be third when the technology for their exploitation is developed) that are large enough to meet her growing needs. Both are non-fossil and do not emit CO_2. Nuclear is the only non-fossil base load electricity generation option as far as India is concerned. A minimum share of base load generation is necessary for stable grid operation without having to incur unmanageable costs. Nuclear energy is thus inevitable for a carbon free electricity supply. It is also necessary to recognize that the share of electricity in our overall energy use must rapidly increase to minimize hydrocarbon import. Report by Vivekanand International Foundation nuclear energy task force has made an effective case for accelerated deployment of nuclear energy in the country. (The report can be seen under ‘assignments’)

Internationally, the developed world enjoys per capita electricity consumption well beyond the threshold for assuring high human development index. For them, additional generation capacity would only be needed, if at all, for replacing the retiring generation plant capacity.  The real demand for additional generation capacity would arise in emerging economies, most of which are developing countries. It is necessary to create solutions that facilitate faster deployment of nuclear energy in these countries. Concerns related to unresolved issue of safety and proliferation potential of used nuclear fuel are a major barrier to deployment of nuclear energy in these countries. Indian 220 MWe PHWRs fueled with Th-LEU fuel offer the only readymade solution in this context. India should capitalize on this opportunity. Doing this through proactive international co-operation would be a practical way forward.

India is thus uniquely placed in terms of providing an unavoidable clean energy solution for herself as well as for the harmonious sustenance of the world as a whole.