BME Vegyészmérnöki és Biomérnöki Kar

Nuclear energy and sustainable development

BMETE809008

In different countries in the world there are different approaches to sustainable development, environmental protection, energy supply and nuclear energy. The possible ways of socio-economical development, sustainability, role of traditional energy sources, renewable and nuclear energy are being heavily discussed in many countries by stakeholders. The lecture will give an overview on current challenges of energy supply, and possible development strategies. The most important topics to be discussed during the semester are the followings:

• definition of sustainable development; different international programs, intentions and conventions; trends and structure of energy production and consumption, their role in sustainable development;
• traditional energy resources, security of energy supply, the role of different resources in economical development and economical independence; the role of energy production in environmental pollution;
• climate change, global warming, Kyoto protocol;
• comparison of fossil-, renewable- and nuclear energy production; comparison of different energy technologies from the perspective of environmental, economical impact, security of energy supply; the role of renewable and nuclear energy in energy mix;
• development of nuclear energy technologies, basics of nuclear reactors; health effects of ionizing radiation;
• nuclear energy systems, nuclear fuel cycle; treatment and disposal of radioactive wastes; environmental impact of nuclear power plants;
• nuclear safety; discussion of nuclear accidents (Chernobyl, Fukushima, TMI)
• application of nuclear technologies outside the power industry (medical, agricultural, other applications).