Few years back before solar energy took centre stage, it was nuclear energy which was considered an important source of energy to meet the huge electricity demand deficit in India. So has nuclear energy lost its relevance as a source of energy, though not for defence and healthcare needs?
The net generating capacity of India today stands at 6.2 gigawatts (GW), however, it is nowhere close to its ambitious targets set years ago. To understand the role of this energy in the future, NMIMS-FPJ in association with Tata Power is organising a webinar talk with M V Ramana, Simons Chair in Disarmament, Global and Human Security; and Director of the Liu Institute for Global Issues at the School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, University of British Columbia. He will interact with Dr. Mayank Vahia, Dean, School of Mathematical Science, Ex Professor TIFR along with RN Bhaskar of FPJ.
This webinar ‘The Future of Nuclear Energy’ will be held at 10 am on July 1, 2020. This webinar is part of the series ‘The Future of Energy’.
Click here to register.
According to the IAEA, the contribution of nuclear in electricity production in 2019 was 3.2 per cent, while the share of non-nuclear is 96.8 per cent in India. India is home to 22 nuclear reactors which are operational and has another seven nuclear reactors which are under construction. If the under construction nuclear reactors are completed, India will have an additional 4.8 GW generating capacity. However, adding new capacities will take much longer than anticipated in India with growing public resistance. On the backdrop of decline in solar power costs, it would be interesting to hear from Ramana if nuclear energy will become increasingly superfluous or will it be able to regain its relevance in India.
Ramana has written several papers on India and its relation with nuclear energy, highlighting India’s stand on nuclear energy. In a few articles, Ramana has also pointed out how the Fukushima crisis changed the way the world, including India, perceived nuclear power.
