Nuclear power for the production of liquid hydrocarbons

CO2 can be used as the carbon feedstock together with water, nuclear heat and electricity for producing synthetic hydrocarbon fuels, which may be better energy carriers than hydrogen. Several processes to produce synthetic hydrocarbons are described and compared, and methods are outlined as to how nuclear power in the form of electricity, process heat and hydrogen could help reduce CO2 emissions or even act as a CO2 sink. An estimate is given about the requirements in terms of nuclear power, carbon feedstock and clean water to provide synthetic hydrocarbon fuel for a major European airport. The involved organic chemistry processes are already largely used in today's industry and operate at temperatures that require process heat the production of which is feasible with nuclear power. The market potential for combined nuclear-chemical complexes is very big, and massive savings in CO2 emissions could be achieved. Certain references claim that synthetic hydrocarbons could be produced at prices that are not only comparable to fossil fuel but also more stable, with no tax loss for the governments. (author)