Abstract Based on PCA (process chain analysis) and LCA (life cycle analysis) methods, first-hand survey data and some new parameters were used to calculate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from nuclear power chain life cycle in China. The results showed that the present actual GHG emissions from front-end of nuclear fuel cycle and nuclear power plant is 6.2gCO2,eq/(kW·h), and the total of nuclear life cycle (also including fuel reprocessing and radioactive waste disposal) is 11.9gCO2,eq/(kW·h). Nuclear power is low-carbon energy and has obvious potential of GHG emissions reduction that is about 1kgCO2,eq reduction per 1kW·h electricity generation if nuclear power replacing some coal power. By upgrading nuclear industry technologies, encouraging materials reuse/recycle and sustainable energy saving, the GHG emissions from nuclear power chain would be further reduced.
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Received: 07 April 2015
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