PROJECT OVERVIEW
Sustainability Assessment of Nuclear Power: An Integrated Approach (SPRIng) is a consortium project funded by EPSRC and ESRC.
The overall aim of the project is to develop an integrated decision-support framework for assessing the sustainability of nuclear power relative to other energy options (fossil fuels and renewables), considering both energy supply and demand.
The main deliverables of the project are:
- A multi-criteria decision-support framework for sustainability assessment of energy options;
- Sustainability assessments of the nuclear option within an integrated energy system; and
- Engagement with and communication of the results of research to relevant stakeholders.
Taking a life cycle approach, the project aims to develop a methodology and multi-criteria decision-support framework for an integrated assessment of the sustainability of nuclear power. The framework will draw together technical, environmental, economic, social and governance perspectives to enable systematic, transparent and balanced sustainability assessment of nuclear power relative to other energy options. Sensitivity analysis will be used to assess the impacts of data, model and decision-making uncertainties as well as to explore the differences in stakeholder perceptions.
The project comprises five Work Packages (WPs). WPs 2-4 are concerned with the detailed assessment of different aspects of sustainability; WP1 integrates these aspects into a common framework; and WP5 facilitates stakeholder engagement, testing of the framework and communication of the results.
The outputs from SPRIng have a potential to contribute to a better quality of life through improved understanding of the sustainability implications of the nuclear option compared to other energy options. Given the importance of the subject and the interest in its outputs, the work has a potential to impact both the UK and the international scenes. The beneficiaries of this work include a wide range of stakeholders and end-users, including policy-makers and planners, NGOs, the nuclear industry, researchers, the public and the media. Representatives from most of these groups of stakeholders are partners on the project.
For more information, please contact info@springsustainability.org
