Fossil fuels will remain the backbone of the global energy economy for the foreseeable future. The contribution of nuclear energy to the global energy supply is also expected to increase. With the pressing need to mitigate climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the fossil energy industry is exploring the possibility of carbon dioxide disposal in geological media.
Geological disposal has been studied for decades by the nuclear industry with a view to ensuring the safe containment of its wastes. Geological disposal of carbon dioxide and that of radioactive waste gives rise to many common concerns in domains ranging from geology to public acceptance. In this respect, comparative assessments reveal many similarities, ranging from the transformation of the geological environment and safety and monitoring concerns to regulatory, liability and public acceptance issues. However, there are profound differences on a broad range of issues as well, such as the quantities and hazardous features of the materials to be disposed of, the characteristics of the targeted geological media, the site engineering technologies involved and the timescales required for safe containment at the disposal location.
There are ample opportunities to learn from comparisons and to derive insights that will assist policymakers responsible for national energy strategies and international climate policies.
Author(s): Ferenc L. Toth (auth.), Ferenc L. Toth (eds.)
Series: Advances in Global Change Research 44
Edition: 1
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Year: 2011
Language: English
Pages: 621
Tags: Geology; Climate Change; Effects of Radiation/Radiation Protection; Environmental Law/Policy/Ecojustice; Environmental Economics
Front Matter....Pages i-xvi
Comparing the Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste: Introduction and Overview....Pages 1-20
Front Matter....Pages 21-21
Geological Media and Factors for the Long-Term Emplacement and Isolation of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste....Pages 23-79
Environmental Issues in the Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste....Pages 81-102
Risk Assessment, Risk Management and Remediation for the Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste and Storage of Carbon Dioxide....Pages 103-122
Monitoring Methods Used to Identify the Migration of Carbon Dioxide and Radionuclides in the Geosphere....Pages 123-139
Transport of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste....Pages 141-183
Engineering Challenges in the Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste and Carbon Dioxide....Pages 185-213
The Costs of the Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste....Pages 215-262
Managing Liability: Comparing Radioactive Waste Disposal and Carbon Dioxide Storage....Pages 263-294
Public Acceptance of Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste: Similarities and Differences....Pages 295-315
Comparative Ethical Issues Entailed in the Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste and Carbon Dioxide in the Light of Climate Change....Pages 317-337
Psychological Perspectives on the Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste and Carbon Dioxide....Pages 339-363
Front Matter....Pages 365-365
Comparative Assessment of Status and Opportunities for Carbon Dioxide Capture and Storage and Radioactive Waste Disposal in North America....Pages 367-393
Comparing the Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste in Western Europe....Pages 395-462
Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste in Central and Eastern Europe: A Regional Overview of Geological Storage and Disposal Potential....Pages 463-487
Comparison of the Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste in European Russia....Pages 489-513
Comparison Between Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste in China....Pages 515-537
Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste in the Geotectonically Active Country of Japan....Pages 539-567
The Geological Storage of Carbon Dioxide and Disposal of Nuclear Waste in South Africa....Pages 569-588
Assessment of the Geological Disposal of Carbon Dioxide and Radioactive Waste in Brazil, and Some Comparative Aspects of Their Disposal in Argentina....Pages 589-611
Back Matter....Pages 613-638
