Managing environmental effects with CANDU nuclear power technology

Nuclear energy is a vast potential energy resource that produces virtually no greenhouse gases. For decades, nuclear energy has been used by many countries to generate electricity on a scale that kept pace with their growth in demand. Nevertheless, the expansion of nuclear power has been slowed, at least in part, by prevalent views of environmental issues associated with it. An examination of environmental aspects of the CANDU 6 nuclear power system on the basis of experience in Canada and other countries, however, shows that the environmental performance of the system is good. Indicators of this performance are low emissions; small volumes of waste, effective waste management practices, and an excellent safety record founded on inherent safety features and a safety-oriented design philosophy. (author)