Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy, one of today's focal points of interest, was discussed at Altınbaş University. The Panel on Safety and Sustainability in Nuclear Energy was hosted by Dr. Francesco Vicinanza and Marek Tengler, nuclear energy experts with global studies.
Altınbaş University organized a Nuclear Energy Security and Sustainability Panel to discuss new technologies and security concerns in nuclear energy.
Speaking at the panel, Prof. Dr. Osman Nuri Uçan, the Dean of the Faculty of Applied Sciences at Altınbaş University, mentioned that Turkey is the latest addition to the global "nuclear energy family," and new topics for discussion have emerged in the Turkish scientific community. Uçan stated, "In this context, positioning ourselves as a country and contributing scientifically should be the goal of universities."
The moderator of the panel, Dr. İnanç Atılgan, stated, "Two experienced scientists have come to our country to share their nuclear experiences in countries like the Czech Republic, Austria, and Italy to enlighten the public about possible processes for Turkey."
Nuclear energy expert Dr. Franseczo Vicinanza provided information on measures to be taken regarding radiation detection. He emphasized the importance of gamma radiation, dose amount, alpha/beta/gamma radiation intensities, spectrum analysis, and the significance of temperature and environmental effects.
Highlighting the vital importance of waste management and sustainability in nuclear energy, Vicinanza pointed out that "Radioactivity" is the most important factor for human health when looking at the prominent parameters in nuclear power plant installation worldwide. He evaluated the errors that occurred in the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant due to the tsunami after an earthquake as a crucial turning point in taking precautions in nuclear power plants.
Marek Tengler, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rizzo Associates Czech, a company developing construction projects for risky structures like dams, pointed out that the climate crisis and the goal of "zero emissions" are challenging the world to find clean energy sources. Tengler highlighted that nuclear energy has a capacity utilization efficiency of 92.4%, compared to 74.3% for geothermal, 56.6% for natural gas, 41.5% for dams, 40.2% for coal, 35.4% for wind energy, and 24.9% for solar energy. According to Tengler, nuclear energy is by far the most efficient type of energy, and if safety rules are followed and precautions are taken correctly, potential accidents can be prevented, emphasizing the vital importance of this.
Marek Tengler also discussed new technological developments in nuclear energy, mentioning Small Medium Reactors (SMRs), defined by the EU as a more feasible new system. He highlighted that this technology is designed to be produced in a factory and transported to the field, and it is smaller (<300 MWe) than traditional nuclear reactors. Tengler emphasized that with this technology, the production of used fuel waste is minimized, and the nuclear waste from existing systems can be converted back into energy.
Tengler emphasized that Turkey is in an advantageous position due to the development of these new technologies compared to countries that have had nuclear power plants for a long time. He pointed out that "old players," defined as states, are dealing with problems and additional costs such as renewing existing facilities, planning new ones, decommissioning very old facilities, and waste management. Tengler highlighted that Turkey, as an innovative player in nuclear energy, is ready to respond to the latest technological developments and remains important despite all accidents as a fundamental energy source that will gain even more importance in the future.