Foreground system:
The model comprises the production of electricity from a mix of pressure water (PWR) and boiling water (BWR) reactors. The power plants are parameterized and the mix is country specific. Furthermore the model includes the infrastructure of the power plant as well as the end-of-life of the auxiliary buildings, e.g. cooling tower. The model is structured considering the main phases of the fuel cycle. In that perspective, the following main steps are considered:
a) Mining - extraction of the uranium from the mine using the processes of open pit mining and/or underground mining and/or in situ leach mining;
b) Milling - extraction of the uranium from the rock and production of a highly concentrated uranium oxide - "yellow cake";
c) Conversion - conversion of the "yellow cake" into uranium hexafluoride through dry process or wet process;
d) Enrichment - increase of the proportion of isotopes U235 in the uranium hexafluoride through one of the technologies: diffusion or centrifuge;
e) Fuel fabrication / production of the fuel assemblies that will be used in the reactors;
f) Use of the uranium in reactor; as mentioned, two types of reactor are represented: pressure and boiling water reactors.
g) End of life of the spent fuel; after using the uranium in the rector, there are different possibilities for the uranium end-of-life: no reprocessing (direct storage); reprocessing according to UK technology; reprocessing according to FR technology;
h) End-of-life of the LLW/MLW generated; according to the type of wastes, these are directly disposed or have a treatment (typically incineration, fusion and/or vitrification).
Background system:
Electricity: Electricity is modelled according to the individual country-specific situations. The country-specific modelling is achieved on multiple levels. Firstly, individual energy carrier specific power plants and plants for renewable energy sources are modelled according to the current national electricity grid mix. Modelling the electricity consumption mix includes transmission / distribution losses and the own use by energy producers (own consumption of power plants and "other" own consumption e.g. due to pumped storage hydro power etc.), as well as imported electricity. Secondly, the national emission and efficiency standards of the power plants are modelled as well as the share of electricity plants and combined heat and power plants (CHP). Thirdly, the country-specific energy carrier supply (share of imports and / or domestic supply) including the country-specific energy carrier properties (e.g. element and energy content) are accounted for. Fourthly, the exploration, mining/production, processing and transport processes of the energy carrier supply chains are modelled according to the specific situation of each electricity producing country. The different production and processing techniques (emissions and efficiencies) in the different energy producing countries are considered, e.g. different crude oil production technologies or different flaring rates at the oil platforms.
Thermal energy, process steam: The thermal energy and process steam supply is modelled according to the individual country-specific situation with regard to emission standards and considered energy carriers. The thermal energy and process steam are produced at heat plants. Efficiencies for thermal energy production are by definition 100% in relation to the corresponding energy carrier input. For process steam the efficiency ranges from 85%, 90% to 95%. The energy carriers used for the generation of thermal energy and process steam are modelled according to the specific import situation (see electricity above).
Transports: All relevant and known transport processes are included. Ocean-going and inland ship transport as well as rail, truck and pipeline transport of bulk commodities are considered.
Energy carriers: The energy carriers are modelled according to the specific supply situation (see electricity above).
Refinery products: Diesel fuel, gasoline, technical gases, fuel oils, lubricants and residues such as bitumen are modelled with a parameterised country-specific refinery model. The refinery model represents the current national standard in refining techniques (e.g. emission level, internal energy consumption, etc.) as well as the individual country-specific product output spectrum, which can be quite different from country to country. The supply of crude oil is modelled, again, according to the country-specific situation with the respective properties of the resources.