Project description
Sustainability assessment for the future of nuclear energy
The sustainability assessment of existing nuclear technologies is closely associated with the future of nuclear energy in society. The EU-funded ECOSENS project will develop a novel model based on the system of provision approach to create and calculate indicators pertinent to consumers, governments and suppliers. The project will review from a socio-ethical perspective the adoption of recommendations on stakeholder engagement. It will span different disciplines in nuclear research and decision-making and develop recommendations to address challenges. ECOSENS will analyse citizens’ views and risk perceptions and the benefits and potentials of existing and new nuclear technologies concerning societal challenges such as the climate crisis, sustainable energy policies and energy security, also considering the entire life of the nuclear investment.
Objective
Using a deliberative approach, ECOSENS will analyse citizens’ views and risk perceptions, benefits and potentials of current and new nuclear technologies in the context of major societal challenges (climate crisis, sustainable energy policies, energy security). It will review through a socio-ethical lens the uptake of recommendations on stakeholder engagement and transdisciplinarity (notably integration of social sciences and humanities) in nuclear research and decision making, developing recommendations to overcome challenges. Societal stakeholders (authorities, industry, academia and civil society) are engaged to explore and co-construct possible energy futures and the role of nuclear energy therein.
Sustainability assessment of current nuclear energy technologies will take into account the entire life of the nuclear investment including the nuclear fuel cycle. Integration of new technologies (Gen III+, IV, SMR) is then explored in the context of the future energy market and societal developments to identify the possible roles of nuclear energy in the climate neutral economy targeted for 2050. Multiple perspectives (nuclear experts, social scientist, stakeholder, society) are integrated and methodological recommendations for sustainability assessment are agreed.
To address the weaknesses of existing economic models, ECOSENS develops a novel model based on the system of provision approach in order to create and calculate indicators relevant for a plethora of stakeholders (consumers, governments, suppliers). The model will include the “social discount rate” and considers the limits of our planet, as reflected in the “circular economy” system. A series of national case studies evaluates the model and provides relevant recommendations to stakeholders.
ECOSENS activities and results will be largely communicated and disseminated through the network of stakeholders established to support innovative involvement, as well as through Open Access facilities.
Fields of science
- natural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyplanetary sciencesplanets
- engineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsnuclear energy
- social sciencespolitical sciencespolitical policiescivil society
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changes
- social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
EURATOM-CSA - EURATOM Coordination and Support ActionsCoordinator
115400 Mioveni
Romania