Nuclear Energy, the Environment and Proliferation, Y45.2420 at NYU taught by Chris Gadomski

New York University
School of Continuing and Professional Studies
M.S. Program in Global Affairs
Nuclear Energy, the Environment and Proliferation, Y45.2460
Fall 2009, Wednesday, 3:30-6:10pm
August 28, 2009

INSTRUCTOR: Chris Gadomski
http://www.smidirect.net/nyu
OFFICE HOURS: Wednesdays by appointment
OFFICE PHONE:914.993.9060
E-mail:gadomski@nyu.edu

Course Objective

The law of supply and demand is fundamental to the study of economics and it plays an integral part in the evolution of today’s energy markets. In the last 18 months especially, energy costs have been very volatile—a basic economic premise resulting from the world’s growing demand for energy in the first decade of the 21st century and the depletion of supplies of cheap oil, complicated by a deep global recession. A look at the energy supply side is where we start this course.

There are many twists and turns in the global warming and climate change discussion. Perhaps none is as controversial as nuclear energy. It is the largest source of carbon-free electricity the world puts use to today and yet many question the technology's safety, its cost, and what to do with spent nuclear fuel. And then there is the issue of nuclear proliferation. All of these issues are coming more clearly into focus as there is wide spread discussion of a global nuclear renaissance. As energy and environment students of global affairs, is a global nuclear renaissance welcome?

This course examines the history of nuclear energy and its evolution from its military origins to its role today as a significant generator of carbon-free electricity. Given global concerns over carbon dioxide, to what extent will the industrial world deploy this technology as a weapon again increasing CO2 levels. Or will other technologies like fossil fuel carbon capture and storage or renewable solar, wind and geothermal technologies usher nuclear aside? What are the institutional, social, technical, economic, environmental and political benefits and obstacles to nuclear energy?

In examining its current and future role in the electrical power infrastructure, the course will start with a review of the technology's evolution from its military origins and finish with an expansive discussion of nuclear weapons proliferation threats in the Middle East, and in the rest of the world. How did we get from the Manhattan project to 439 nuclear power plants operating in the world today, with dozens more under construction in several countries around the world?

During the semester, the course will explore the physics of nuclear fission and how today's nuclear power plants generate electricity. What is the difference between a BWR (boiling water reactor) and a PWR (pressurized water reactor)? What new technologies loom ahead such as HTGC (high temperature gas cooled) and PBMR (pebble bed modular reactors) and for what different applications and markets will they be used? Will the world's installed base of nuclear generating facilities grow in the future, or will other renewable technologies displace nuclear as the largest generator of carbon-free electricity? If nuclear grows, will any technology dominate? What markets will dominate? Why?

Driving all of these discussions will be one essential topic--can the deployment of nuclear energy address rising global levels of carbon dioxide.

Other environmental aspects of nuclear power will be addressed specifically the issue of nuclear waste. What are the pros and cons of spent fuel management via storage in an underground repository like the proposed Yucca Mountain repository. What is the physics of spent fuel radiation and the half life of radioactive elements from nuclear spent fuel that requires a million year repository design lifetime? As an alternative, we will also examine the pros and cons of reprocessing spent fuel with a closer look at the companies and countries where spent fuel is being reprocessed.

Other issues examined include:
• Is there enough uranium to fuel a nuclear renaissance? If not, what alternatives exist?
• Which countries are leading the nuclear renaissance? Why?
• How real is the threat of proliferation? How does it happen? How can we stop it?
• Nuclear energy as a solution to the world's fresh water needs.
• Three mile Island and Chernobyl? What happened and why? How real is the threat of another nuclear mishap?

This course aims to, as all of my courses do, to immerse you into an analysis of the technology, data and economics surrounding nuclear power. Be prepared to delve deeply into the numbers so that you can argue the case for or against with a quantitative background to support your thinking. I will challenge you to think critically about energy and the environment and how nuclear energy can become a part of the solution to global warming and climate change. Accordingly, I want you to be comfortable being able to quantify what is happening to the environment, and how from a CO2 perspective, nuclear can be part of the solution. At the same time, if nuclear energy poses a nuclear weapons proliferation threat, is this alleged tonic for climate change more dangerous than the global warming problems it is designed to help resolve.

Suggested pre-requisites: Energy & The Environment, Y45.2430, or The Economics & Finance of Energy, Y45.2420.

Course Structure

We will learn about energy and its impact on the environment through class lectures, a focused reading list, independent research and class discussion. We start with great books and the daily newspapers that will form the foundation for our class lectures and discussions. We will complete our course with a semester-long individual project that will examine real world energy/environment issues in an in-depth and quantifiable way.

An important goal of this class will be a trip to a nuclear power plant. Doing so is always a logistical and scheduling challenge, and due to increased security measures may not always be possible. Please be advised that a trip outside the area may involve additional travel costs. I will advise you accordingly.

Required Text

A book list has not been provided to the bookstore. For a direct link to Amazon, visit: http://www.smidirect.net/nyu/books-nuclear.htm

• Gawdat Bahgat, Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons in the Middle East, (Gainesville: University Press of Florida, 2006) ISBN 978-0-8130-3316-7
• Helen Caldicott, Nuclear Power is not the Answer, (New York: The New Press, 2006) ISBN 978-1-59558-067-2
• Alan Herbst & George Hopley, Nuclear Energy Now, (Hoboken, NY, John Wiley& Sons, Inc.2007) ISBN 978-0-470-05136-8
• John Hershey, Hiroshima (Bantan Press 1968) • William Tucker, Terrestrial Energy (Bartleby Press, 2008)
• Nuclear Energy Today, (Paris: OECD Publications, 2003) ISBN 92-64-10328-7, available at www.nea.fr/html/pub/nuclearenergytoday/welcome.html
• The Wall Street Journal, or The Financial Times, or The New York Times. Bring relevant articles to each class for discussion.

Class Preparation

See class calendar for class topics/assignments. http://www.smidirect.net/nyu/cal_nu_fall_09.htm Be prepared for every class, as I will open each class by asking you to summarize the topic of the day and to relate news stories you have clipped to present or past discussions. If you are not prepared, letting me know ahead of time will save us both some embarrassment. 25% of your grade will be from class participation and discussion, and to get an “A” in this class you need to be a vocal and enlightened contributor. It is important that you read the material before class and voice your opinions in class. I will routinely post supplementary material to the class home page or to the NYU blackboard. Check regularly. I intend to give a mid-term, plus a final.

Your Grade

I will grade you on the following each worth 25%.

• Class Attendance and Participation,
• Midterm
• Semester Project Papers/ Presentation
• Final

Course Project

You will have the opportunity to explore one aspect of nuclear energy in detail through a ten-page individual research project. Please pick from one of the following topics to explore in detail, providing me with a first and second choice by the start of the second class. If you would like to suggest an alternative project, please do so in a detailed written assignment.

1-Examine recent US policy toward nuclear energy as one of many possible solutions to climate change.

2-China has a tremendous amount of coal, the world’s largest population, and a rapidly developing economy that consumes tremendous amounts of energy. Examine the CO2 implications of China’s reliance on coal, and its steps to reduce its carbon footprint through nuclear energy.

3-The generation of electricity from nuclear power produces no GHG emissions. Study this issue and report back whether nuclear energy is or is not a solution for GHG emissions.

4-Nuclear waste, which is typically now stored on-site at nuclear power plants, poses a significant environmental challenge. It can be blasted into outer space, buried in deep geological structures or recycled. Research the recycling of nuclear waste. Is this preferable to long-term geological storage? In examining the actual process of recycling, is there a lot of additional pollution created? Is the plutonium extracted from used fuel a proliferation risk?

5-Does Iran's current nuclear power program constitute a nuclear weapons proliferation risk?

6-The Obama Administration is advocating an “asset light” approach to future power generation needs, i.e. relying on energy efficiency and renewables to meet future electrical demand growth. Will this work. Explain.

7-A recent Worldwatch Institute study described Canada’s tar sands as the country’s dirty secret. The tar sands hold 1.7 trillion barrels of crude oil, but the energy-intensive process of extracting crude bitumen releases three times more greenhouse gases than conventional extraction while wreaking havoc with the whole environment. This appears to be a classic energy security versus environment security issue. A proposal exists to install nuclear power plants to provide the steam and heat now provided by natural gas. Is this a solution? Examine in detail and suggest an appropriate course of action.

8-German energy policy has recently favored renewable energy technologies over nuclear power. Is this a viable strategy for Germany for the next 20-30 years?

9-The European Union is ahead of the US and the rest of the world as far as attempting to address its carbon emissions. Discuss the role nuclear will play in the continent's approach?

10-The former Soviet Union was the site of the world's worst nuclear accident at Chernobyl. A poor design was responsible for many of the problems. Yet today, Russia has an aggressive nuclear export program...does this make any sense? Explain what, if anything, has changed?

Helpful Hints: The goal of this exercise is becoming an expert on a controversial aspect of the energy and environment debate. You must quantify your results as best as you can. This is not about theory; it is more about real world issues that can be quantified. I want you to immerse yourself in the numbers and in the technology. If you have any questions see me right away. Also, as this is a research paper, I expect you to consult and reference many different sources. Cite your references at the bottom of each page. I read them very carefully. Make sure you not only pay attention to the content of the paper, but also to how it is presented. A great idea or concept that is presented poorly is likely to fail more often that a poor concept presented brilliantly. In keeping with my responsibilities to improve your written and verbal communications skills, I expect the utmost in professionalism in writing these papers. Make sure you budget enough time. I do not accept late papers.

Getting It Done

All papers and assignments must be handed in in class, and a soft copy delivered to the digital drop box.

Don’t be absent. Missing class will adversely affect your grade. Participate in class discussions—it is necessary for getting an A. Cite references in all of your class assignments.

Please visit http://www.smidirect.net/nyu/index.htm this website will supplement the blackboard. Please download the student personal page, embed a picture and submit it during the next class.

It is the express policy of the class that no late assignments will be accepted under any circumstances. I expect each student to bear individual responsibility for his or her work and to uphold the ideal of academic integrity.

Regarding academic integrity…make sure not to plagiarize anyone else’s work either intentionally or unintentionally. Plagiarism is defined as using someone else's words or ideas without proper attribution. The proliferation of Web pages and electronic publications makes it easy for plagiarism, accidental or otherwise, to occur. When in doubt, make sure to include a full citation either as a footnote or as a reference at the end of the paper.

For example, the above three sentences were excerpted from the course syllabus of Masaaki Kotabe, The Washburn Chair of International Business and Marketing, Temple University, International Marketing (MKT 514).

I look forward to learning a lot with you and having fun this semester.

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New York University School of Continuing and Professional Studies M.S. Program in Global Affairs Nuclear Energy, the Environment and Proliferation, Y45.2460 Fall 2009, Wednesday, 3:30-6:10pm August 28, 2009

INSTRUCTOR: Chris Gadomski http://www.smidirect.net/nyu OFFICE HOURS: Wednesdays by appointment OFFICE PHONE:914.993.9060 E-mail:gadomski@nyu.edu