The Debate Over Small Nuclear Reactors
2022-09-19
LRC
TXT
大字
小字
滚动
全页
1The search for alternatives to Russian energy sources during the war in Ukraine has renewed interest in small nuclear power stations.
2Supporters say the stations could provide lower-cost energy compared to larger stations.
3Critics, however, worry about the risks to the environment.
4They also worry that having more power stations will make it easier for some countries to build nuclear weapons.
5Small power stations are called small modular reactors or SMRs for short.
6Modular means the components of the power stations can be built in a factory and then assembled where the station is to be built.
7The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, says more than 70 commercial SMR designs are being developed around the world.
8Because they are smaller and easier to build, SMRs are less costly than larger reactors.
9However, SMRs provide less energy.
10Large stations usually provide between 1,000 and 1,450 megawatts of electricity while SMRs usually provide between 50 and 300 megawatts.
11Rolls-Royce is a company with plans to build SMRs.
12The company is based in Britain.
13The estimated cost of a Rolls-Royce SMR is $2.5 to $3.2 billion.
14 The estimated time to build one is five-and one-half years.
15The IAEA said that is two years faster than it took to build a normal nuclear plant between 2016 and 2021.
16By comparison, the estimated cost of building a 1,100-megawatt nuclear plant is between $6 billion and $9 billion.
17NuScale Power is an American company with plans to build SMRs.
18It is based in the state of Oregon.
19It plans to build its first SMR in the state of Idaho by 2029 or 2030.
20And it signed agreements last year with two Polish companies to study the possibility of building SMRs to power industry there.
21Poland wants to depend less on coal-fueled electricity production.
22Rolls-Royce aims to build its first stations in Britain within six years.
23Last month, Rolls-Royce SMR said that it signed a deal with a company in the Netherlands, ULC-Energy, to consider building SMRs there.
24Rolls-Royce SMR spokesman Dan Gould said that because of the war in Ukraine, "the reliance on gas imports and Russian energy sources has focused people's minds on energy security."
25Environmentalists argue that having more nuclear reactors will worsen the problem of how to dispose of nuclear waste.
26M.V. Ramana is a professor of public policy and global affairs at the University of British Columbia.
27He said that research suggests there is no proven way to make sure that nuclear waste will not escape in the future.
28Ramana said the heat generated by the waste could change rock formations where it's stored and let water leak.
29He said mining activities could make the storage place weaker.
30Critics also say that bringing SMRs to more countries increases the risk that they could build nuclear weapons.
31Professor Ramana says that one SMR could produce "around 10 bombs worth of plutonium each year."
32Ramana said that a high-level reprocessing technology is not required to produce the amount of plutonium needed for weapons.
33But Gould said Rolls-Royce obeys British and international rules for exporting SMR technology.
34He said they export only to countries that have signed "the necessary international treaties for the peaceful use of nuclear power for energy generation."
35However, Ramana said there is no guarantee nations will follow the rules.
36I'm Andrew Smith.
1The search for alternatives to Russian energy sources during the war in Ukraine has renewed interest in small nuclear power stations. Supporters say the stations could provide lower-cost energy compared to larger stations. 2Critics, however, worry about the risks to the environment. They also worry that having more power stations will make it easier for some countries to build nuclear weapons. 3Small power stations are called small modular reactors or SMRs for short. Modular means the components of the power stations can be built in a factory and then assembled where the station is to be built. 4The International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, says more than 70 commercial SMR designs are being developed around the world. 5Because they are smaller and easier to build, SMRs are less costly than larger reactors. However, SMRs provide less energy. Large stations usually provide between 1,000 and 1,450 megawatts of electricity while SMRs usually provide between 50 and 300 megawatts. 6Rolls-Royce is a company with plans to build SMRs. The company is based in Britain. The estimated cost of a Rolls-Royce SMR is $2.5 to $3.2 billion. The estimated time to build one is five-and one-half years. 7The IAEA said that is two years faster than it took to build a normal nuclear plant between 2016 and 2021. By comparison, the estimated cost of building a 1,100-megawatt nuclear plant is between $6 billion and $9 billion. 8NuScale Power is an American company with plans to build SMRs. It is based in the state of Oregon. It plans to build its first SMR in the state of Idaho by 2029 or 2030. And it signed agreements last year with two Polish companies to study the possibility of building SMRs to power industry there. Poland wants to depend less on coal-fueled electricity production. 9Rolls-Royce aims to build its first stations in Britain within six years. Last month, Rolls-Royce SMR said that it signed a deal with a company in the Netherlands, ULC-Energy, to consider building SMRs there. 10Rolls-Royce SMR spokesman Dan Gould said that because of the war in Ukraine, "the reliance on gas imports and Russian energy sources has focused people's minds on energy security." 11Environmentalists argue that having more nuclear reactors will worsen the problem of how to dispose of nuclear waste. 12M.V. Ramana is a professor of public policy and global affairs at the University of British Columbia. He said that research suggests there is no proven way to make sure that nuclear waste will not escape in the future. 13Ramana said the heat generated by the waste could change rock formations where it's stored and let water leak. He said mining activities could make the storage place weaker. 14Critics also say that bringing SMRs to more countries increases the risk that they could build nuclear weapons. Professor Ramana says that one SMR could produce "around 10 bombs worth of plutonium each year." Ramana said that a high-level reprocessing technology is not required to produce the amount of plutonium needed for weapons. 15But Gould said Rolls-Royce obeys British and international rules for exporting SMR technology. He said they export only to countries that have signed "the necessary international treaties for the peaceful use of nuclear power for energy generation." 16However, Ramana said there is no guarantee nations will follow the rules. 17I'm Andrew Smith. 18Andrew Smith adapted this Associated Press story for VOA Learning English. 19____________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21alternative -n. another choice or option 22components -n. the pieces or parts of something that will be built or put together, such as the parts of a car, house, machine, and the like 23assemble -v. put together and build. For example, a car is assembled in a factory 24reliance on/rely on -n/-v. to need something or someone for help 25dispose of -v. to put or throw something away into a place where it will not be used again 26store -v. to keep something in a container, usually either for future use or to keep something safe; for example, food is stored in a refrigerator 27____________________________________________________________________ 28We want to hear from you. 29We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: 30Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here.