Ensuring Effective Nuclear Power Technology Reporting and Research: NPG Schools Over 60 Journalists

A total of over 60 Journalists drawn from radio, television, newspaper, online, and other communication institutions attended a two (2) day training workshop on effective Nuclear Power Technology Reporting and Research.

Under the auspices of the Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), the workshop, held on the theme, “Transformative Nature of Nuclear Power Technology and Its Relevance for Ghanaians”, was aimed at equipping Journalists and communication strategists with skills and knowledge on the sector.

The training workshop featured astute speakers of international repute and experience, namely Felix Ameyaw, PHD from the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), and Daniel Wordson from the Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), among other presenters and contributors.

Participants were taken through topics including the fundamental use of Nuclear Power and its evolution, basic Architecture of Nuclear Reactor Types and Main Components, fuel and Control Rod, energy conversion regions, and Nuclear Steam Supply System.

It also includes a Steam Generator, Turbine and Condensation Systems, a Power Generator, a Cooling Tower/System and Containment Building, and a Summary of the Electricity Production Process in Nuclear Power Plants.

Others were the Nuclear Fuel Cycle; Key Concepts and associated Safety, concerns to cogeneration, current Status of Nuclear Power, Non-Electric Applications and Nuclear Energy, Status of major Non-Electric Applications and Facts on Non-Electric Applications with Nuclear Power.

Among them were Prospects of Nuclear Energy Utilization for Non-Electric Applications in Ghana, International Support for Non-Electric Applications, Meet Demand for Energy-Intensive Non-Electrical, and Introduction to Co-generation.

The rest are how electricity is produced in a nuclear power plant, Prospects of Nuclear Energy Utilization for Non-Electric Applications in Ghana, Nuclear-Assisted Desalination Process, and nuclear-assisted hydrogen production Process, among others.

Content of lesson Learnt

Desalination is the process of removing salts and impurities from seawater to produce fresh water for domestic and industrial use.

Nuclear Contribution to Desalination

Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) provide a cheap and continuous heat supply for thermal desalination (MSE, MED), electricity for reverse osmosis desalination, cost-effective and carbon-free water production, and a reliable large-scale water supply.

Meet demand for Energy-intensive Non-Electric Products

Nuclear Desalination Reactor(desalination of sea water is the only means to overcome the water shortage in 21 century), demand of desalination (Middle East -70%, Europe – 9.9%, California and Florida – 7.4%, African – 6.3%, Asia – 5.8% .

In Ghana, close to 6 million people (nearly 22%) rely on surface water (supplied by GWCL) to meet their daily water needs for domestic and industrial uses. More than 40% of Ghana’s 25 million population lacks access to safe water.

Lack of clean water to meet current demand due to High Population Growth Rate, less existing water resources, High cost of existing desalinated plants: Accra seawater desalination drinking water to more than 500,000 residents in the towns of Teshie, Nüngua, and Tema (currently shutdown).

Meet demand for Energy-intensive Non-Electric, include high Temperature Applications: Fuel Synthesis namely refining of crude oil, coal gasification, oil extraction from tar and oil sands and for enhanced oil recovery operations, production of more organic fuel (fossil fuel is the preferred option, due to the low prices of oil and gas).

Constraints to energy-intensive non-electricity includes versatility of nuclear heat, temperature flexibility, cost-effectiveness challenge, infrastructure development needs, growing Interest in Ghana, and untapped Market Potential.

Introduction to Co-generation

Cogeneration is the integration of nuclear power plants with other systems and applications. It is an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly method of producing electricity (power), steam, and/or hot water at the same time, in one process, with one fuel.

Co-generation offers energy savings ranging between 15-40% when compared against others.

Nuclear-Assisted Hydrogen Production Process

Hydrogen production involves extracting hydrogen molecules from water or hydrocarbons for use in energy, industry, and transportation.

Nuclear Contribution to Hydrogen Production: Nuclear Power Plants provide low-carbon electricity for electrolysis and high-temperature heat for thermochemical cycles, improving efficiency, sustainable and scalable hydrogen generation, and reduction in carbon emissions for clean energy transition.

Hydrogen Production

Over the years, hydrogen has contributed to various industrial processes, mainly petroleum refining, petrochemical, and ammonia production.

It includes Petroleum Production: in the petroleum refining industry, hydrogen can be used for: Hydrotreatment: It involves treating crude oil fractions or chemical feedstocks with hydrogen gas (H:) under high temperature and pressure in the presence of a catalyst (such as molybdenum, cobalt, or nickel-based catalysts).

Hydrocracking: In the hydrocracking process, cracking and hydrogenation of hydrocarbons takes place simultaneously to produce refined fuels with smaller molecules and higher hydrogen to carbon (H/C) ratios.

Ghana purchases most of the hydrogen used at the refineries from merchandising suppliers rather than from increased hydrogen production on-site at the refinery (EIA data).

The recommendation is that Ghana starts producing its own hydrogen for the refineries such as the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), and nuclear power is a viable option.

Hydrosulphurization

Petrochemical production(methano): used in the manufacture of methanol, butyraldehyde from propylene, butanediol, and other petrochemical products

Fertilizer production: Hydrogen gas (H2) is a critical feedstock in the production of ammonia (NH3), which is the primary building block for nitrogen-based fertilizers.

By E Adu Gyamfi Odopa || Asempa Dawuro