Tapping the Oceans

摘要

The successful operation of the sodium-cooled BN-350 fast breeder reactor at Aktau, Kazakhstan, has proved the technical feasibility, compliance with safety requirements and reliability of cogeneration reactors. On a smaller scale, some ten desalination facilities connected to PWRs have been operated successfully in Japan. Large scale commercial deployment of nuclear desalination will depend on its economic competitiveness with alternate energy supply options, and market demand in countries where water and energy needs are most acute. The IAEA brought together experts from different countries to study technical, economic and other aspects of nuclear desalination. Activities included preparation and publication of "Options Identification Programme for Demonstration of Nuclear Desalination" (TECDOC-898), and the proceedings of the International Symposium on Nuclear Desalination of Seawater in 1997 (Proceedings Series STI/PUB/1025). The findings added momentum to efforts in many states interested in evaluating, planning or initiating nuclear desalination projects.