For many people around the world that have different views on nuclear energy. Some believe it to be a bad way to produce energy and those people want to have different solutions to energy production. Then there are some that believe that nuclear energy is the way to go when it comes to energy production. In this paper I will be providing information on the pros and cons of nuclear energy and my own beliefs on nuclear energy.
Pros
To start things off there are many benefits that nuclear energy has low pollution, low operation costs, it is reliable, can be renewable, and is considered to be more proficient than fossil fuels. Nuclear energy is considered to have a low pollution. The low pollution stems from the low emission of greenhouse gasses. The emissions of greenhouse gasses have been significantly lowered and cut practically in half, this is due to the how we utilize nuclear energy. This form of energy doesn’t produce gasses like carbon dioxide or methane, which are directly linked to greenhouse gasses. Nuclear energy also doesn’t have any negative impacts on water quality or the ground surrounding the facilities.
Another positive for nuclear energy would be that the energy produced is rather inexpensive. The reason the cost of the energy produced is so low is because the uranium that is used in the production of nuclear energy is rather inexpensive, and the operating costs are also relatively inexpensive. The most costly portion of nuclear energy is the construction of the facilities. Such facilities are said to last anywhere from 40-60 years, dependent on how much the facility is used for production.
The reliability of nuclear energy, by reliability I mean, that compared to wind or solar energy , which are both very much weather dependent, nuclear energy can be produced all year long no matter what the weather is doing. Another reason nuclear energy is more reliable is that the current consumption rate of uranium, we have enough uranium for another 70-80 years. At this consumption rate a nuclear facility can run constantly for a year in production. Nuclear energy is believed to provide a more reliable energy source and last significantly than fossil fuels.
Nuclear energy is also more proficient than fossil fuels. Nuclear energy has a higher energy density then that of fossil fuels. Nuclear energy is also considered to be a more feasible choice then other energy sources, like fossil fuel. The amount of fuel required by a nuclear facility is considerably less than that required by other power plants. Energy that is released by nuclear fission is about 10 million times greater than the amount of energy that is released by a fossil fuel atom. Fossil fuels also produce and release carbon dioxide into the air which is believed to cause multiple environmental issues. Whereas nuclear energy, which I mentioned previously, is considered a low pollution energy source. Carbon emissions from nuclear facilities are also considerable lower than that of coal and gas power plants, and the emissions from nuclear facilities is considered to be insignificant.
Although nuclear energy is like fossil fuels in the sense that it is not something that is a renewable energy source. Uranium is a limited resource and cannot be reproduced and is not renewable. However, plutonium can be produced by using a breeder and fusion reactors. Plutonium is an element that is produced by products of a chain reaction. These were just some of the benefits that using and producing nuclear energy has on the environment.
Cons
Although there are many benefits to using nuclear energy, there are also some downfalls to using it as well. Some of the downfalls include environmental impacts, radioactive waste disposal, nuclear accidents, high costs, uranium is finite, and it’s a hot target for militants. To start off, some believe that there are negative environmental impacts that nuclear energy has. This is because of concerns how we go about mining and refining uranium, the process is considered to not be a clean process. It is also a concern with how nuclear fuel is transported to and from the facilities. Disposal of the used fuel is also a concern because I is radioactive which makes disposal difficult, as it cannot just go into a landfill as it is a hazardous material.
Disposal of radioactive waste is another concern. It is said that one nuclear facility produces around 20 metric tons of nuclear fuel in a years’ time and with that production comes the waste. Most of this waste is emits radiation and high temperatures so this is a problem for containing the waste. This can potentially have a negative impact on any living things surrounding the facilities. The waste that is produced will eventually transmit safe to handle radioactive levels, but this process takes a very long time.
Another concern is that of nuclear accidents. Nuclear accidents can cause serious health problems for people and put their lives in danger. Such accidents can also pose a threat to animals and the environment. For example in 1986 there was a nuclear accident that the effects of it are still seen today in the environment. This incident occurred in the Ukraine at the Chernobyl Nuclear Plant. This was considered to be the worst nuclear accident that has occurred. There was also another nuclear accident that occurred in Japan and this accident had causalities and negative impacts on the environment.
There is also a concern with the high cost of disposal. It takes so long for the waste to cool before it can be mixed with glass then cooled and stored in large solid structures. The waste is then monitored to ensure the materials are not in the hands of the wrong administrations. There is also high cost in building a nuclear facility and gaining the proper clearance of agencies to build such a facility.
Uranium is like many other sources of fuel and is finite and only exists in a few countries. The cost to mine uranium is also a concern as it is expensive. There is also a major expense with transporting uranium and with refining it. Uranium also produces a large amount of waste and can result in serious health effects and environmental contamination if it is not handled properly.
The last major concern is how it’s a target for militants. Nuclear energy is used in the production of weapons. Nuclear energy has such an immense power that if it were to fall into the wrong hands there could be serious complications and possible ends to countries and nations. Nuclear facilities are considered to be a prime target for potential terrorists. If security for a nuclear facility isn’t strict or the a gap in protection then there could be a possible deadly situation for all of humankind.
With all the information I have found and provided, I believe that there are more positives to the use of nuclear energy. I believe that many of the negatives of nuclear energy could potentially be lessened or eliminated all together in the future with the technological advancements made every day. My greatest concern for the use of nuclear energy would have to be how big of a target it is for potential terrorists. In today’s society the growth of terrorist activities has gotten out of hand, this including all the attracts on schools. If this energy were to fall into the wrong hands it could be catastrophic. With the concerns about the environment, I believe that we have so many more environmental contaminates that are deemed safe that we need to be more concerned with. I have seen this first hand, as my husband runs a waste hauling company, some of the things that I have seen being dumped into landfills is more of a concern than what nuclear facilities can potentially give off and damage the environment. All in all I believe that there are both downfalls and positives to the use and production of nuclear energy but overall I think there are more positives than negatives.