Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems: INdustrial Applications and their Potential Markets

Severe climate change, stringent environmental regulations, extreme energy security and unstable energy market are the leading challenges of the current century to be overcome in the present energy supply and demand scenario. To cope with this situation, the hunt for a technological mix of nuclear– renewable hybrid energy systems (N–R HESs) with suitable industrial applications and dynamic potential market is essential. N–R HESs are four steps processes where a nuclear reactor that generates heat is coupled with a thermal power cycle for electricity generation, at least one renewable energy source, and an industrial process that uses thermal and/or electrical energy to produce a valuable product with low carbon emissions. In this study several N–R HESs are explored, potential markets for their generated products are identified and the challenges and opportunities associated with their realization are briefly discussed.