The contribution of nuclear energy to meeting Italy's electric power needs

ENEL's policy in the development of nuclear energy is based on a number of factors which differentiate Italy's situation from that of most industrialized countries. Among these are the scarcity of natural resources, including energy sources, available in Italy. An extensive recourse to nuclear energy is the best way to achieve that diversification of energy supplies vital to the Italian economy, which, because of the very lack of natural resources, is predominantly based on processing. ENEL's nuclear plan calls for the construction of the four 1000-MW units already on order and of 16 additional units of the same size, divided into two 8-unit blocks, to be decided on respectively in the very near future. The necessary flexibility of the plan for nuclear units to go into service by 1986 is ensured by the subdivision into blocks, with provision for the postponement of the second 8-unit block should the country's economic development require a revision in electric power forecasts. The paper considers in particular the integration between the nuclear plan and ENEL's extensive plan for pumped-storage hydroelectric power plants and the related technical and economic advantages, also on an international scale. The review of Italy's nuclear plan concludes by stressing two essential problems: financing and the availability of sites for nuclear power plants. Finally, the paper supplies some information on the nuclear research, development and demonstration activities connected with the long-term plans; they are centred on the CNEN-ENEL project for the 40,000-kW CIRENE prototype and above all on the EdF-ENEL-RWE joint project for the construction of two over-1000-MW demonstration plants equipped with sodium-cooled breeder reactors. With such reactors it would be possible to achieve a virtually complete energy independence for the nuclear source. (author)