GEMSTAR an alternative way forward

The presumption that nuclear reactors will retain their role in global energy production is constantly being challenged - even more so following recent events at Fukushima nuclear energy despite being 'green', has inexorably been coupled in the public mind with three paramount concerns: safety, weapons proliferation, and waste (and then ultimately cost). Over the past four decades, the safety of deployed fleets has greatly improved, yet the capital and political costs of a 'nuclear energy' option appear insurmountable in several countries. But technologies and priorities have changed, and the time has arrived where a transformative re-think of nuclear energy is not only possible, but urgent. This talk will show that by asking, and answering, 'what would an accelerator-driven civilian nuclear energy program look like', the GEMSTAR design directly addresses all three fundamental concerns: safety, proliferation, and waste - and also the final hurdle: cost. It provides a complementary approach towards nuclear energy which may be of real (political, financial and practical) interest to India. (author)