Energy for 1000 Years: Introduction to Discussion [and Discussion]

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical and physical sciences 1990-06, Vol.331 (1619), p.445-450
• Main Authors: Marsham, T. N., Saitcevsky, B., Davis, D. A., Eyre, B. L., Cassels, J. M., Lallement, R., Moles, F. D., Gregory, C. V., Barclay, F. J., Roberts, L. E. J., Bangash, M. Y. H., Walker, J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Capital costs; Design; Economic resources; Electricity; Energy; Fast nuclear reactors; Funding; Nuclear fuels; Technology; Thermal reactors
• ISSN: 0080-4614; 2054-0272
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.1990.0081

To conclude the excellent and highly authoritative set of papers, the Organizers hope that this final discussion will be one of the most important parts of the meeting, one in which we would value particularly comments and impressions from some of you not involved so closely with the program m e as are many of us. Energy for 1000 years. How very appropriate it has been for the Royal Society to have organized this meeting. The motto chosen by our early Fellows for our Coat of Arms in 1663 was ‘Nullius in Verba’, which expressed their determination that all statements should be verified by an appeal to the facts. The statements we have heard on all aspects of the fast reactor system have been justified most comprehensively, starting from a sound understanding of the underlying science through development of the technology and engineering to demonstration by large-scale operational experience. Here I think we should pay tribute to the work of outstanding scientists in many countries whose pioneering work laid such firm foundations for the later technical developments - work not just in the physics of the breeding process but including the complex interplay of many specialities - solid state phenomena, radiation and separation chemistry, thermodynamics and metallurgy among others. This scientific base has stood us in good stead in the face of changing requirements from licensing authorities and the general public for ever greater assurance on safety and environmental issues and from industry for assurance on performance and economics before embarking on anything new.