An approach for developing sustainable nuclear energy management models

As the quest for clean and sustainable energy increases with rising energy demand, the reflection of the sustainability concept on nuclear energy requires evaluation as well. On one side, nuclear energy is promoted as a clean and sustainable alternative energy source; on the other hand, it presents one of the biggest waste management problems in ecological management. Türkiye, as a country just entering the nuclear energy sector, needs to develop its ecological safety management strategies for sustainable nuclear energy production. By that sense an approach for developing sustainable nuclear energy management model is enhanced by combining the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis methodology with INPRO methodology which is enhanced by International Atomic Energy Agency. Additionally weighing of each criteria is conducted by the experts who are selected for their contribution to the study. By using the developed methodology, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the nuclear energy systems in Türkiye are determined for each INPRO criteria, and these strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are weighted between 1 to 5 (very low impact to very high impact) according to their contribution to reach the sustainability. In conclusion it is found as having 61 strengths out of 87 criteria is a good beginning for Türkiye. 16% of the weaknesses are from environmental impacts area and in order to be environmentally sustainable, some research and developments are required in the topics as uranium extraction from seawater, or nuclear cogeneration for reducing the negative impacts of waste heat. Similarly 39% of the weaknesses are in safety area, as a result research and development in this area is also vital. This study is the first study using a holistic sustainability approach by using INPRO Methodology in Türkiye and it could be enhanced in future studies by the contribution of extended number of experts who might be from various governmental institutions, universities, operators or project companies.