Nuclear Energy - Historical Development, Situation and Perspectives

Proizvodnja električne energije iz nuklearnih elektrana važan je i nezaobilazan izvor električne energije u svijetu. Nuklearna energija imala je svojih uspona i padova kroz povijest. Postavlja se pitanje koja je danas uloga nuklearne energije u energetskoj tranziciji. Vjerojatno bi proizvodnja električne energije iz nuklearnih elektrana do danas bila dominantan izvor energije da nije bilo nuklearnih katastrofa (npr. Černobil i Fukushima) koje su imale utjecaja na negativnu javnu percepciju o sigurnosti nuklearnih elektrana. Mnogo je razloga koji potvrđuju navedenu tezu. Nuklearne elektrane ne proizvode stakleničke plinove, u usporedbi s ostalim ne-ugljičnim i ugljik-neutralnim energetskim opcijama zahtijevaju mnogo manje površine za rad, mjere sigurnosti dovedene su na maksimum i dr. Cilj rada je opisati postojeće stanje u proizvodnji električne energije iz nuklearnih kapaciteta, poziciju RH u odnosu na nuklearnu energiju s analizom NE Krško te njezin pozitivan odnosno negativan utjecaj na okoliš, ali i njezine komparativne prednosti u proizvodnji električne energije u budućnosti. U radu će se analizirati ima li nuklearna energija budućnost s obzirom na postupnu zamjenu fosilnih obnovljivim izvorima energije.The production of electricity by nuclear power plants is an important and essential source of electricity in the world. Nuclear energy has had its ups and downs throughout history. The question emerges: what is the role of nuclear energy in today’s energy transition? The production of electricity by nuclear power plants would have likely been a dominant source of energy had it not been for nuclear catastrophes (such as Chernobyl and Fukushima), which have had an impact on the public’s negative perception regarding the safety of nuclear power plants. There are many reasons which confirm this thesis. Nuclear power plants do not produce greenhouse gases, require less space to operate in comparison with other non-carbon and carbon-neutral energy options, safety measures have been perfected etc. The aim of this thesis is to describe the current situation in the production of electricity from nuclear capacities, the position of the Croatia with regard to nuclear energy, with an analysis of the nuclear power plant Krško, its positive and negative influence on the environment, but also its comparative advantages in the production of electricity in the future. This thesis analyses whether nuclear energy has a future with regard to a gradual replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy sources