|
Abstract:
|
This Technical Report presents a tentative protocol used to assess the viability of powersupply
systems. The viability of power-supply systems can be assessed by looking at the
production factors (e.g. paid labor, power capacity, fossil-fuels) – needed for the system to
operate and maintain itself – in relation to the internal constraints set by the energetic
metabolism of societies. In fact, by using this protocol it becomes possible to link
assessments of technical coefficients performed at the level of the power-supply systems with
assessments of benchmark values performed at the societal level throughout the relevant
different sectors. In particular, the example provided here in the case of France for the year
2009 makes it possible to see that in fact nuclear energy is not viable in terms of labor
requirements (both direct and indirect inputs) as well as in terms of requirements of power
capacity, especially when including reprocessing operations. |