It seems more or less like nuclear power has more harmful effects than benefits to the human race. Nuclear weapons have been tested in all environments since 1945: in the atmosphere, underground and underwater. Tests have been carried out onboard barges, on top of towers, suspended from balloons, on the Earth’s surface, more than 600 metres underwater and over 200 metres underground. Nuclear test bombs have also been dropped by aircraft and fired by rockets up to 320 km into the atmosphere.
The National Resources Defence Council estimated the total yield of all nuclear tests conducted between 1945 and 1980 at 510 megatons (Mt). Atmospheric tests alone accounted for 428 Mt, equivalent to over 29,000 Hiroshima size bombs.
According to Union of Concerned Scientists, between 2002 and 2008, for example, cost estimates for new nuclear plant construction rose from between $2 billion and $4 billion per unit to $9 billion per unit, while experience with new construction in Europe has seen costs continue to soar.
Nuclear energy is the energy released by a chain reaction, specifically by the process of nuclear fission or fusion in the reactor. The source of fuel used to generate nuclear energy is mined and processed uranium (enriched uranium), which is utilized to generate steam and produce electricity.
How does a nuclear reactor produce electricity? A nuclear reactor produces electricity just the same way other power plants do. The chain reaction generates the energy. The energy turns water into steam. The steam releases pressure. The steam pressure is directed to turn a turbine that is coupled to a generator. The turning turbine triggers the generator to produce electricity.
The main difference lies in how the heat is created. Power plants powered by fossil fuels burn oil, coal or natural gas to produce heat. In a nuclear power plant, heat generation stems from splitting of atoms, a process known as nuclear fission. The process of splitting a nucleus into two is called nuclear fission. Millions of uranium nuclei occur inside every uranium fuel pellet. When splitting of these nuclei takes place, a vast quantity of energy is released. A small percentage of this energy emanates from radiation, but the biggest percentage comes from kinetic energy. This kind of energy is the one utilized to generate heat inside the reactor.
Various Advantages of Nuclear Energy
While using fossil fuels to generate electricity may carry no threat of a large disaster, they are not good for the environment since they emit unlimited amounts of greenhouse gasses. Nuclear energy is completely safe for the environment if managed properly. Here is a rundown on the main advantages of nuclear energy:
Nuclear reactors offer impressive based-load electricity and operate and produce power over 90% of the time. The periods between refueling have been substantially extended, plus downtime for refueling has been significantly minimized. In the United States, for example, these enhancements through the years have been equated to building one reactor each year to the existing ones. Most nuclear reactors are designed to operate for more than 40 years. Most of the reactors are nearing that age in perfect condition and projections are that they could still operate for another 20 years.
No greenhouse gas emissions: Nuclear reactor operations emit zero greenhouse gasses. Although the process of mining, enrichment, construction and waste management of uranium involves emission of greenhouse gasses, the total emissions are way lower compared to emissions from fossil fuels.
Competitive cost: The cost of nuclear power is very much stable and competitive. On the other hand, the cost of power derived from fossil fuels pretty much depends on the market. When the market is good, oil prices become stable. When the market is volatile, oil prices may shoot up or plummet.
Nuclear energy is compact: A nuclear power station is compact, which means it quintessentially covers an area the size of a football stadium and the surroundings. Wind turbines, solar cells, and growing biomass all need huge area of land.
Developers of the current nuclear power plants have drawn from the weaknesses of the past disasters like the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Japan. The current nuclear power plants do not depend on external electricity supplies or external water supplies for purposes of cooling. Instead, they utilize water fed by gravity, gas pressurized water tanks, and natural convection heat exchangers. These systems are referred to as ‘’passive safety systems.” Another advantage is the reactors can be installed underground offering added insulation against unauthorized access and external hazards
Although the costs of setting up a nuclear power plant are extremely high, the electricity produced afterward is very cheap. To start with, the cost of uranium, the raw material for the production of nuclear energy, is not expensive. When the plant is up and running, the maintenance cost will hardly be felt. Even if market shifts occur and the cost of uranium shoots up, the effect on the cost of power will hardly be felt.
The other main advantage of using nuclear energy is that it is very powerful and efficient than other alternative energy sources. Advancement in technologies has made it more viable option than others. This is one the reason that many countries are putting huge investments in nuclear power. At present, a small portion of world’s electricity comes through it.
The definition of renewable energy involves unlimited availability of the resource, the capability to replenish itself and the characteristic to cause minimum impact on the environment. The question of whether nuclear energy is renewable still elicits debates to this day despite the fact that it is a low-carbon power generation source. The 5 substantiated renewable sources of energy used on a daily basis include solar, wind, hydro, geothermal and biomass.
However, the largest point of view stipulates that nuclear energy is not really renewable. This hinges on a wide range of facts such as:
The chief raw material for the production of nuclear energy (uranium) is not a renewable resource. Uranium resources are quite limited, and the mining and refining process mightily impacts the environment. Also, transportation of uranium is risky. Safe transportation involves significant capital outlay and a lot of energy consumption.
After processing uranium, significant amounts of radioactive waste are generated. The resultant elements have extensive storage requirements and are known to stay radioactive and hazardous for thousands of years. Most countries have tried to recycle it, but the whole process is ineffective and relatively expensive, not to mention it’s a daunting task to store it safely. To add insults to the injury, nuclear storage sites can become prime targets for terrorists who are hellbent on killing more people simultaneously.
It’s a well-known fact that uranium resources are limited. However, their conversion to plutonium can relatively elongate their availability. Light water reactors make use of use uranium-235, which attributes to 0.7% of all natural uranium. On the other hand, IFRs or fast breeder reactors utilize uranium-238, which attributes to 99.3% of all natural uranium. Fast-breeder kinds of nuclear reactors are able to generate huge quantities of fissionable plutonium capable of sustaining nuclear reactions way longer than traditional fuels. This process of plutonium production could give nuclear energy the renewable status. Another advantage to plutonium production is that the waste left behind is a lot less hazardous. The waste will stop being radioactive after a few hundred years.
The good thing about nuclear waste from nuclear power plants is that it can be transferred into reprocessing units such that 95% of the spent fuel is able to be recycled and transported back for use in the nuclear plant. This process enormously minimizes the amount and toxicity of radioactive waste, making room for separate handling (storage or destruction) of the waste. Reprocessing of radioactive waste has since turned political with anti-technology lobby groups striving to end the proliferation of anything related to nuclear by dwelling on the extraordinary costs of reprocessing and the threat of terrorism.
Despite the raging debates and contradictions, nuclear energy doesn’t qualify yet as a renewable energy considering the present state of production and waste disposal. Uranium, the chief raw material for nuclear energy production, is still a limited fuel resource (in fact, it occurs only in specific countries) and the reactors have the possibility of one day becoming unstable and dangerous. Also, reprocessing of nuclear waste is not happening as it should.
Nevertheless, if adjustments to the reactors under development and safe processing of radioactive waste would happen, nuclear energy could well be on its way to becoming a renewable energy.
Although the advantages of nuclear energy and plenty including low cost, sustainable, provision of a stable base load of energy and low pollution, it has it’s a fair share of disadvantages. Here is a comprehensive view of the disadvantages of nuclear energy:
Nuclear radiation accidents
The radioactive waste coming from nuclear power plants is a great threat to Mother Nature and humans. The devastating effects of Chernobyl disaster still linger in our minds, where the grave effects on humans can be seen even today. According to records, about 30, 000 people died in the Chernobyl disaster, and over 2.5 million Ukrainians are still dealing with the health tribulations associated with the nuclear waste.
Only a few years back, a huge nuclear crisis occurred in Japan on March 8. Although the casualty rate was significantly lower than the Chernobyl disaster, the environmental impacts were disastrous. People who work at nuclear power plants and live near those areas are at high risk of facing nuclear radiations, if it happens. According to these historical happenings, it’s evident that we cannot insulate ourselves 100% from these disasters.
Radioactive waste is any material, whether solid, liquid or gas that consists of a radioactive nuclear substance and the operators of the nuclear plant have determined that it’s a waste. Radioactive material is considered waste after it has spent more than 3 years in the reactor producing heat and electricity. This waste comes from nuclear reactors and needs to be disposed of or stored safely and conveniently considering they are highly dangerous and can let off radiations if disposed of incorrectly.
The reason it has to be disposed of safely and appropriately is that it is able to emit radiations even after thousands of years. The storage or disposal of radioactive waste is the main reason slowing down expansion of nuclear energy. Handling and safe storage can happen as long as it’s cooled and workers insulated from the radiation it emits by thick material such as steel, concrete or a few meters of water.
Water is able to offer remarkable cooling and shielding, which means a typical reactor can have its fuel removed under water and safely transferred into a storage pool. After more than 5 years, the waste can be transferred into dry ventilated concrete containers. However, the radioactive waste can stay safely in the pool for over 50 years.
Requires high initial capital costs: Another practical disadvantage of using nuclear energy is that it needs a lot of investment to set up a nuclear power station. Constructing a nuclear power plant requires massive capital outlay. For example, between the year 2002 to 2008, the cost of constructing a new power plant increased from between $2 billion to $4 billion per unit to a staggering $9 billion per unit. The new constructions occurring in Europe today are estimated to surpass the $10 billion mark each, not to mention it takes 5-10 years to be fully operational, plus construction requires completion of a multitude of legal formalities.
Eutrophication leading to death of aquatic life: Eutrophication is extensive enrichment of the lake and other water bodies by nutrients, mostly due to runoff from land. This process causes dense growth of plant life eventually leading to death of aquatic life as a result of lack of oxygen. Radioactive waste can cause this problem. Many seminars take place across the world to find a solid solution to this potential problem, but a solution is not yet in sight. According to scientists, radioactive wastes take about 10, 000 years to neutralize.
Impact on humans: The impacts of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear bombs during the Second World War are still rife in our memories. Today, the effects of these bombs are still occurring. Children in Japan are being born with defects. This makes a nuclear power plant more dangerous, especially in this day and age of high threat of terrorism. Terrorists can take advantage and deliberately cause nuclear meltdown. This is why stringent safeguards including permission to construct a nuclear power plant and maximum security are put in place to mitigate this potential catastrophe from happening.
The raw material for generation of nuclear energy is uranium. Uranium is mined, which means it’s not available in many countries. It’s also a scarce resource. Most countries export this mineral for nuclear energy production. Once uranium is completely extracted, there will be no nuclear energy production. Because of its dangerous effects and limited in supply, it doesn’t qualify as a renewable resource.
Nuclear energy has given us the power to produce more weapons than to produce things that can make the world a better place to live in. We have to become more careful and responsible while using nuclear energy to avoid any sort of major accidents. They are hot targets for militants and terrorist organizations. Security is a major concern here. A little lax in security can prove to be lethal and brutal for humans and even for this planet.
Fuel Availability: Unlike fossil fuels which are available to most of the countries, uranium is very scarce resource and exist in only few of the countries. Permissions of several international authorities are required before someone can even think of building a nuclear power plant.
We all need an energy supply that is reliable, but it also has to be safe. Across the world, numerous questions are asked each day about nuclear energy. Some countries are looking to scale down on its development, while others to entirely abandon it. However, there are vital lessons to be learned about nuclear energy from the events at Fukushima.
To mitigate further disasters, a body called The World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) was set up that is geared towards safe and reliable operation of nuclear power plants by conducting independent peer reviews for every new nuclear power plant operating across the world. If nuclear power plants are managed effectively and waste disposed of appropriately, nuclear energy can provide the most reliable, stable and clean source of energy to the world population.
Advantages of nuclear fusion versus nuclear fission
Currently the generation of electricity in nuclear reactors is done by nuclear fission reactions. For the moment, nuclear fusion is not valid to generate electric power. Once developed, if nuclear fusion is really practicable, it will provide great advantages over nuclear fission: Virtually inexhaustible sources of fuel. No accidents in the reactor due to the chain reactions that occur in fissions. The waste generated will be much less radioactive
Nuclear tests
Programme Years Number of tests
United States 1945–1992 1,054
Russia/USSR 1949–1990 715
France 1960–1996 210
United Kingdom 1952–1991 45
China 1964–1996 45
India 1974–1998 6
Pakistan 1998 6
North Korea 2006–2009 2
Total 1945–2009 2,083
