Fig. 4.27 Components of Comprehensive Health and Safety Impact Analysis 70% were assumed for the coal, fission, and fusion systems, 90% for the SPS systems, and 26% for the centralized terrestrial photovoltaic systems. Silicon photovoltaic cells at an array cost of $35/m^ were assigned to the solar energy systems. From the technology characterizations and other related information, we identified all known, potentially major health and safety issues that could be unambiguously defined and discussed. Each segment of the energy cycle was considered, including component fabrication, plant construction, fuel extraction and processing, operation and maintenance, and waste disposal. The health and safety risks of system storage or utility system back-up were not included for any of the systems. Compared to the more conventional coal and fission technologies, the advanced solar and fusion technologies present a tradeoff of reduced fuel requirements but higher initial capital and construction requirements. Furthermore, the industries producing the energy system components in turn require certain commodity inputs (e.g., copper mining to produce electrical equipment), and the risks associated with the production of these indirect requirements must be considered in the overall risk analysis, as shown in Fig. 4.28. Input-output tables based on the 1972 U.S. economic structure^
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