Nuclear power of the 21st century

In the period after the F-1 start-up in Russia, tens of nuclear systems for different applications have been designed, built, tested, and put into operation. To satisfy a predicted growth of energy consumption, a competitive development of different power sources will be required. In the first half of the 21st century, natural gas will dominate over other power sources. But even this 'gas bridge' will pass through its maximum around the middle of the 21st century. The principle advantages of nuclear power, such as unlimited fuel resources, compactness of wastes, and freedom from combustion products discharge, contributes to its competitiveness. If nuclear power is to be a substitute for organic fuel, nuclear fuel breeding and reprocessing is imperative. The beginning of the 21st century, along with traditional operations, will be characterized by the use in reactors of a surplus of weapons-grade highly enriched uranium and plutonium. In further nuclear power development and scaling up, its structuring will be impossible without considering the capabilities of different reactor types. In Russia, an increase in the utilization of reactor heat for district heating, as well as in the use of low power autonomous nuclear sources, are in sight. In the coming decades, the designs of the NPP under construction will use technical solutions that have already been proven by practice. At the same time, it is absolutely necessary to continue with exploratory research and development of revolutionary reactor designs of the next generation to cope with the problems of large-scale power engineering. (orig.)