As Ghana plans to integrate nuclear power into its energy mix, the focus is not only on electricity generation but also on the non-electric applications of nuclear energy. These applications have the potential to transform various sectors, including industry, agriculture, and water supply.
Non-electric applications involve using nuclear power to produce heat for industrial purposes. These include seawater desalination, hydrogen production, district heating, and process heat for industries such as petrochemicals, refineries, metal production, and glass or cement manufacturing.
In the context of Ghana, these applications could significantly enhance industrial capabilities. For instance, gas turbines powered by high-temperature reactors can provide efficient energy solutions. Waste heat can be utilized for desalination, producing up to 50,000 m3/day of fresh water, which is crucial for agriculture and industry. Additionally, steelmaking and fertilizer production can benefit from process heat, supporting Ghana’s industrial ambitions.
Non-electric application offers increased revenue and cost savings through better fuel utilization, infrastructure sharing, and cogeneration. Recycling waste heat and rationalizing power production can also enhance nuclear power plant efficiency, and in dealing with environmental sustainability, Non-electric application reduces reliance on fossil fuel, decreasing CO2 emissions, which aligns with the country’s climate goals.
With nuclear-assisted desalination, the nuclear plant can provide cheap and continuous heat for the thermal desalination and electricity for reverse osmosis, offering cost-effective and carbon-free water production. This is particularly relevant for Ghana, where a reliable water supply is essential for domestic and industrial use.
Ghana’s process industries, such as food processing, paper and chemical manufacturing, require steady heat supplies. Nuclear power can meet this demand without seasonal variations. For instance, Ghana’s plan to develop an aluminum industry can be hitched to nuclear process heat in the aluminum production, which includes extracting alumina from bauxite and other heat-demanding processes.
Nuclear energy can also be used for refining crude oil, coal gasification, and extracting oil from tar sand. Though fossil fuels are currently preferred, nuclear energy offers a cleaner alternative for producing organic fuels.
Ghana is committed to developing nuclear energy power as part of its energy mix. Plans are far advanced to build the country’s first nuclear power plant by 2030, which will not only enhance energy security but also support industrialization and climate change mitigation efforts of the country.
As Ghana progresses in its nuclear journey, the integration of non-electric applications could play a pivotal role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Article by: Derick Kwame Botsyoe (www.newslinkghana.com)