By Elijah Chia
(Nuclear Power Development, n.d.)
Nuclear energy has plenty of controversy surrounding its safety, and place in humanity’s future. While being the current most efficient source of electricity available today, numerous high-profile accidents revolving around nuclear power plants prevent it from being fully accepted by everyone. Of these accidents, the most notable is the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, and the Fukushima disaster in 2011. As a whole, this has caused a lot of setbacks in the full implementation of nuclear energy in modern society. However, what exactly made these disasters so monumental?
Put simply, nuclear energy is made possible by the splitting of Uranium atoms — this is known as fission. Scientists have been able to achieve this by colliding a neutron with a uranium atom, splitting it. This process only works because atoms contain vast amounts of nuclear energy in the bonds which hold the nucleus together. Hence, once the atom is split, it releases all of the energy in the form of both heat and radiation. Oftentimes, most nuclear power plants use a specific type of uranium known as U-235, because its atoms can be easily split apart. Even though uranium is almost 100 times more common than silver, U-235 is considered to be much rarer and requires additional processing before it can be used as fuel for nuclear power plants. Similarly to coal power plants, the heat is used to produce steam, spinning a turbine to generate electricity. However, dissimilarly fission doesn’t release any greenhouse gas emissions, reducing its impact on the environment greatly.
(Nuclear Fission: Basics, n.d.)
Consequently, nuclear energy has various disadvantages. For starters, U-235 is still non-renewable, and a finite resource. Furthermore, the cost of constructing a nuclear power plant demands a very high price despite the relatively low cost of operation. This is because of the expensive technology paired with the several safety systems which need to be incorporated into the plant. The already discussed nuclear disasters also serve as a reminder of the long-term consequences of nuclear power plant meltdowns. The meltdowns are caused by the nuclear reactor producing more heat than the cooling system can handle, causing nuclear power plants to combust. While occurrences are extremely rare, and many safety measures are taken, radiation continues to pose a serious health risk for anyone in the general area, making it inhabitable. Increased risk of cancer and leukemia among exposed individuals. This is not to mention the devastating environmental implications put on the surrounding area — studies suggest that animals and local wildlife within a 20-mile radius of the Chernobyl disaster saw decreased reproductive success, genetic mutations caused by damaged DNA, and increased death rates.
Nuclear waste consists primarily of the fuel which has been used for nuclear fission. The waste itself possesses a solid form and still has the potential to be recycled for further use within the plant. Seeing as the waste itself is very radioactive, the used fuel must be kept underwater for at least 5 years, before being contained in what is known as dry storage. The waste is then classified as either high-level or low-level. High-level waste is mainly the used fuel, while low-level waste includes things such as equipment or machinery which have been exposed to radioactivity, and comprises the majority of waste produced by nuclear power plants. While most low-level waste can be stored on-site until it is no longer radioactive (where it is then disposed of normally), high-level waste requires “deep geological disposal”, and is the most agreed upon method. Despite all of this, nuclear power plants produce significantly less overall waste in comparison to other energy sources such as coal.
In conclusion, while nuclear energy is still facing a lot of disapproval due to safety concerns of people and the environment, as well as the disastrous consequences should a power plant malfunction, it is without a doubt a much cleaner energy source compared to fossil fuels. Nuclear energy also holds great potential for the future, as safer, more advanced methods are used to make nuclear fission more effective and efficient. Perhaps nuclear energy can be used to burden some of the pressure renewable energy sources are facing to keep up with current energy demands. It can be used as a temporary replacement for fossil fuels, giving more time for sustainable energy sources like wind and solar to develop and become standardized.
Bibliography
Nuclear explained - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). (n.d.). EIA. https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/
Pros And Cons of Nuclear Energy | EnergySage. (2021, November 10). Energysage. https://www.energysage.com/about-clean-energy/nuclear-energy/pros-and-cons-nuclear-energy/
Somma, M. (2019, November 18). The Effects of Nuclear Radiation on the Environment. Sciencing. https://sciencing.com/the-effects-of-nuclear-radiation-on-the-environment-13428111.html
Storage and Disposal Options for Radioactive Waste - World Nuclear Association. (n.d.). World Nuclear. https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-waste/storage-and-disposal-of-radioactive-waste.aspx#:%7E:text=Disposal%20of%20low%2Dlevel%20waste,the%20most%20radioactive%20waste%20produced.
Comments