[en] The fast reactors being developed at the present time use mixed oxide fuel, stainless-steel cladding and liquid sodium as coolant (LMFBR). Theoretical and experimental designing work has also been done in the field of gas-cooled fast breeder reactors. The more advanced carbide fuel offers greater potential for developing fuel systems with doubling times in the range of ten years. The thermohydraulic and physics performance of a GCFR utilising this fuel is assessed. One question to be answered is whether helium is an efficient coolant to be coupled with the carbide fuel while preserving its superior neutronic performance. Also, an assessment of the fuel cycle cost in comparison to oxide fuel is presented. (Auth.)

[en] 80% of the final energy in Switzerland is imported, most of it in the form of crude oil. The world situation on the crude oil market in recent years has become slack, the crude oil prices have stabilised. But this situation could quickly change, especially where prices are concerned. Two energy initiatives are proposed, that should determine the energy politics in Switzerland - the atom initiative and the energy initiative. The Federal office for energy economy has made a series of studies on the consequences of the initiative and the relevant characteristics. The basic assumptions and the results of the study are given with emphasis on the work in the energy distribution area. (A.N.K.)

[en] A modelling analysis of the transportation system is described, focused on the market penetration of different transportation technologies (including Learning-by-Doing) until the year 2050. A general outline of the work and first preliminary results are presented. (author)

[en] The calculation of neutron and gamma ray fluxes and dose rates in the Helium ducts and the Turbo-machinery of various High Temperature Reactor with Helium Turbine (HHT) designs is described. The PCRV geometry and the arrangement of the Helium Turbines is described and the different material specifications are summarised. The neutron source at the upper level of the gas plenum is defined using the discrete ordinates approximation of the transport equation in the reactor core. The complicated shielding requires an exact three dimensional solution of the neutron and gamma ray transport. This is obtained using the Monte Carlo program FMCEIR which is briefly described. Neutron fluxes are given. Dose rates are calculated during operation and two days after shut-down. The effectiveness of a boronate graphite wall to attenuate the neutron flux and to reduce the dose rate is also examined. The source is divided into different energy groups to study how the calculated results are affected by the thermal, epithermal and fast source neutrons. The variance is calculated by grouping the histories and the Shapiro-Wilk normality test is performed. (Auth.)

[en] The TEEM (Energy Technology Dynamics and Advanced System Modelling) project focused activities on the role that technology and R and D spending could play for the mitigation of climatic change. The primary objectives of the PSI team were to share experience with other model developers in Europe, to expand the modelling capabilities, to contribute to quantitative analyses on the diffusion of innovative technologies, and to gain insights on the public energy research and development strategies. The paper describes the main findings of some scenarios on CO₂ mitigation for the global electricity system based on analyses using the multi-regional version of the ERIS prototype model, developed during the project. (authors)

[en] This report describes recent extensions to the energy-systems GMM (Global Multiregional MARKAL) model undertaken by the Energy Economics Group (EEG) of the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) in Switzerland (hereon referred to as PSI-EEG) in the context of the SAPIENTIA project sponsored by the European Commission (DG Research) and the Swiss National Centre for Competence in Research on Climate (NCCR-Climate). GMM is a multi-regional 'bottom-up' energy-systems optimization model that endogenizes technology learning. The model has been developed and is used at PSI-EEG. The main extensions undertaken here concern the incorporation of a clusters approach to technology learning, the introduction of an improved representation of the transportation sector with emphasis on the passenger sub-sector and the implementation of marginal abatement curves for CH₄ and N₂O, two main non-CO₂ greenhouse gases. Also, a linear representation of the atmospheric concentration of CO₂, CH₄ and N₂O has been included. Other changes are related to the inclusion of additional technologies for production of synthetic fuels (hydrogen and Fischer- Tropsch liquids) and the inclusion of CO₂ capture in fossil-based and biomass-based hydrogen production. Several of the developments described here follow the work of Turton and Barreto (2004, 2006) for the ERIS model at the Environmentally Compatible Energy Strategies (ECS) Program of IIASA. The remainder of this report is organized as follows. Section 2 describes the basic structure of the GMM model, the main assumptions for the scenario developed and the basic approach to endogenize technology learning in the model and examine the effects of R+D and D+D programs. Section 3 discusses the implementation of technology clusters and describes the key components chosen here. Section 4 presents the improvements to the transportation sector with emphasis on the passenger car subsector. Section 5 briefly describes the new technologies for synthetic fuel production and CO₂ capture considered in the model. Section 6 presents the introduction of marginal abatement curves for two main non-CO₂ greenhouse gases, CH₄ and N₂O. Section 7 describes the incorporation of linearized representation of the atmospheric concentration of CO₂, H₄ and N₂O. Finally, section 8 summarizes the developments. (author)

[en] Understanding technology dynamics, a fundamental driving factor of the evolution of energy systems, is essential for sound policy formulation and decision making. Technological change is not an autonomous process, but evolves from a number of endogenous interactions within the social system. Technologies evolve and improve only if experience with them is possible. Efforts must be devoted to improve our analytical tools concerning the treatment given to the technological variable, recognising the cumulative and gradual nature of technological change and the important role played by learning processes. This report presents a collection of works developed by the authors concerning the endogenisation of technological change in energy optimisation models, as a contribution to the Energy Technology Dynamics and Advanced Energy System Modelling Project (TEEM), developed in the framework of the Non Nuclear Energy Programme JOULE III of the European Union (DGXII). Here, learning curves, an empirically observed manifestation of the cumulative technological learning processes, are endogenised in two energy optimisation models. MARKAL, a widely used bottom-up model developed by the ETSAP programme of the IEA and ERIS, a model prototype, developed within the TEEM project for assessing different concepts and approaches. The methodological approach is described and some results and insights derived from the model analyses are presented. The incorporation of learning curves results in significantly different model outcomes than those obtained with traditional approaches. New, innovative technologies, hardly considered by the standard models, are introduced to the solution when endogenous learning is present. Up-front investments in initially expensive, but promising, technologies allow the necessary accumulation of experience to render them cost-effective. When uncertainty in emission reduction commitments is considered, the results point also in the direction of undertaking early action as a preparation for future contingencies. Early investments stimulating technological learning prove beneficial in terms of both lower costs and emissions in the long run. On the other hand, when the learning rates of the technologies are uncertain, a more prudent intermediate path of installations is followed, but technological learning in emerging technologies continues to be an important hedging mechanism to prepare for future actions. Increasing returns associated to the effects of learning and uncertainty emerge as core mechanisms of the technological change process. The results provide important policy insights: Stimulation of technological learning of emerging, promising energy technologies, by R and D, demonstration projects and deployment in niche markets, appears as the optimal strategy to achieve the long term transition towards more productive and clean energy systems. (author)

[en] The advantages of district heating systems are evaluated in competition to individual heating for the Swiss markets. The preservation of the environmental quality on the national (clean air concept) and global scale (Toronto recommendation) is formulated as constraint of the energy system. The implications of these constraints for the economic competition of district heating is evaluated. The study estimates the evolution of energy demand in the heating markets and shortly describes the technical possibilities in satisfying demand by a set of conventional heating systems, systems using renewable energy sources, energy conservation measures and district heating systems based on conventional or nuclear energy sources. The main conclusion is that small capacity nuclear district heating systems, if acceptable, could enhance the flexibility of the Swiss energy system in respect to CO₂ control. (author) 3 figs., 4 tabs., 9 refs

[en] The Swiss results on carbon dioxide control raise the question of how closely each individual country can be expected to comply with targets for global uniform reductions in greenhouse gases. Using almost hydroenergy and nuclear energy for electricity generation and very little coal for the end-use markets, Switzerland will find further reductions of CO₂ extraordinary difficult and expensive. The Swiss study concludes that the country can at best contribute to the goal of global warming if it also credited with reductions of CFCs and other greenhouse gases. On the other hand, the review of different international studies enhances the conclusion that a combination of carbon taxes on the national level together with a market of tradeable emission permits on the international level, is a favorable police towards climatic sustainability. (author) 3 figs., 3 tabs., 7 refs

[en] This report describes the calculation of neutron and gamma ray fluxes and dose rates in the Helium ducts and the Turbomachinery of various HHT designs. The PCRV geometry and the arrangement of the Helium Turbines is described and the different material specifications are summarized. The neutron source at the level of the core support system is defined using the discrete ordinates approximation of the transport equation in the reactor core. The complicated shielding requires an exact three dimensional solution of the neutron and gamma ray transport. This is obtained using the Monte Carlo program FMCEIR which is briefly described. Neutron fluxes and dose rates are given for the different HHT designs. The effectiveness of a boronate graphite wall to attenuate the neutron flux and to reduce the dose rate is also examined. The source is divided into different energy groups to study how the calculated results are affected by the thermal, epithermal and fast source neutrons. The variance is calculated by grouping the histories and the Shapiro-Wilk normality test is performed