Write the essay of nuclear power
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Introduction
Nuclear energy represents only 15% of the electricity produced worldwide. Though in France, 80% of its electricity production is from nuclear energy and more than one-fourth of electricity in Europe comes from nuclear energy. Nuclear energy represents a very small percentage in many countries’ total electricity production, but this percentage is likely to go up in the coming years. Nuclear power is generated using Uranium, a mineral of which one of the isotopes, U- 234 is unstable. The nucleus breaks down resulting in the emission of heat and radiation followed by a chain reaction. This is called nuclear fission and this process liberates a large amount of energy, but the process also releases radiation which is very dangerous.
What are the Advantages of Nuclear Energy?
Clean Energy
Nuclear energy has the ability to produce electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. It produces electricity without pollution. It is cleaner than many other forms of energy production. Essentially, nuclear power would be “carbon-zero” if the uranium were mined and transported in a more efficient way.
High Quantities
Nuclear reaction releases a million times more energy, as compared to hydro or wind energy. Large quantity of energy is generated from a single nuclear power plant.
High Reserves
Nuclear reactors make use of uranium as fuel and produces huge amounts of energy from small amounts of uranium. The Earth has the high reserves of uranium. Current estimates put the uranium supply as enough to last for 30 to 60 years. Moreover other fuel cycles like Thorium are available for power generation. Whereas, oil reserves and other fossil type fuels are likely to run out shortly.
Reliability
Nuclear power plants operate reliably and have a continuous output of power.The plants do not generally face operations and maintenance problems. This is a contrast to other alternative energies which depend on the activity of the weather.
Low Operating cost
Although nuclear power reactors are expensive to build, they are relatively cheap to operate. Fuel is inexpensive and a plant can be operated by small number of people, approximately 10 people.
Concentration
The nuclear energy is by far the most concentrated form of energy, so it can be produced in large quantities over short periods of time.
Low Waste
Produces small amounts of waste and waste is more compact.
Cheap
Nuclear energy produces electricity at a competitive price and is generally comparable in output to coal plants.
Location
A nuclear plant is not dependant on local sources like oil and coal and can be set up in any part of the globe. It also does not require a lot of space and so can be placed in already developed areas and the power does not have to be transferred over long distances.
What are the Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear Weapons Threat
It has potential nuclear proliferation issues. Some reactors produce plutonium which can be used to make nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are a major threat to the world as they can cause a large-scale devastation.
High Capital Intensive
Nuclear Plants require a high level of technology and a major initial capital investment. Its abandonment cost is also very high.
Long Gestation Period
It takes a long time to build, about 15-20 years to develop a single plant.
Radioactive Waste
There are issues with management of radioactive waste. The spent fuel is highly radioactive and has to be carefully stored for many years after use. A solution to the waste management problem needs to be explored and developed. This has R&D cost.
Disasters, Accidents & Risk
An accident may cause a major disaster resulting in thousands of casualties and releasing high amounts of radiation into the environment, example: explosion of a reactor at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine and melting of the core of a reactor at Three-Mile Island in the United States.
Nuclear energy represents only 15% of the electricity produced worldwide. Though in France, 80% of its electricity production is from nuclear energy and more than one-fourth of electricity in Europe comes from nuclear energy. Nuclear energy represents a very small percentage in many countries’ total electricity production, but this percentage is likely to go up in the coming years. Nuclear power is generated using Uranium, a mineral of which one of the isotopes, U- 234 is unstable. The nucleus breaks down resulting in the emission of heat and radiation followed by a chain reaction. This is called nuclear fission and this process liberates a large amount of energy, but the process also releases radiation which is very dangerous.
What are the Advantages of Nuclear Energy?
Clean Energy
Nuclear energy has the ability to produce electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. It produces electricity without pollution. It is cleaner than many other forms of energy production. Essentially, nuclear power would be “carbon-zero” if the uranium were mined and transported in a more efficient way.
High Quantities
Nuclear reaction releases a million times more energy, as compared to hydro or wind energy. Large quantity of energy is generated from a single nuclear power plant.
High Reserves
Nuclear reactors make use of uranium as fuel and produces huge amounts of energy from small amounts of uranium. The Earth has the high reserves of uranium. Current estimates put the uranium supply as enough to last for 30 to 60 years. Moreover other fuel cycles like Thorium are available for power generation. Whereas, oil reserves and other fossil type fuels are likely to run out shortly.
Reliability
Nuclear power plants operate reliably and have a continuous output of power.The plants do not generally face operations and maintenance problems. This is a contrast to other alternative energies which depend on the activity of the weather.
Low Operating cost
Although nuclear power reactors are expensive to build, they are relatively cheap to operate. Fuel is inexpensive and a plant can be operated by small number of people, approximately 10 people.
Concentration
The nuclear energy is by far the most concentrated form of energy, so it can be produced in large quantities over short periods of time.
Low Waste
Produces small amounts of waste and waste is more compact.
Cheap
Nuclear energy produces electricity at a competitive price and is generally comparable in output to coal plants.
Location
A nuclear plant is not dependant on local sources like oil and coal and can be set up in any part of the globe. It also does not require a lot of space and so can be placed in already developed areas and the power does not have to be transferred over long distances.
What are the Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy?
Nuclear Weapons Threat
It has potential nuclear proliferation issues. Some reactors produce plutonium which can be used to make nuclear weapons. Nuclear weapons are a major threat to the world as they can cause a large-scale devastation.
High Capital Intensive
Nuclear Plants require a high level of technology and a major initial capital investment. Its abandonment cost is also very high.
Long Gestation Period
It takes a long time to build, about 15-20 years to develop a single plant.
Radioactive Waste
There are issues with management of radioactive waste. The spent fuel is highly radioactive and has to be carefully stored for many years after use. A solution to the waste management problem needs to be explored and developed. This has R&D cost.
Disasters, Accidents & Risk
An accident may cause a major disaster resulting in thousands of casualties and releasing high amounts of radiation into the environment, example: explosion of a reactor at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine and melting of the core of a reactor at Three-Mile Island in the United States.
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The threat of nuclear weapons maintains world peace but nuclear power provides cheap and clean energy. The benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Advances in nuclear processing have gave us a low cost energy source, but at the same time nuclear power can be used against human being. There are several advantages of exploiting nuclear energy, for example, very low CO2 footprint, high energy capacity and low costs to consumer compared to other energy sources. On the other hand, nuclear power has serious drawbacks, for instance, threats of nuclear war, disastrous power plant failures and lack of proper radioactive waste degradation technology.
First of all, nuclear energy is one of the cleanest in terms of carbon dioxide production, and for decades it has been outcompeted conventional fossil fuel energy which is directly responsible for greenhouse effect nowadays. In addition, nuclear raw material contains far more Joules per kilogram of fuel than energy sources like hydrogen, shale gas or petroleum. Furthermore, previously mentioned aspects make nuclear energy as one of the cheapest options for nation’s energy politics due to the fact that raw materials are widely abundant and accessible.
Secondly, in recent decade society is highly concerned about major drawbacks of nuclear power, especially growth of nuclear stocks in Middle East, as they can be used for nuclear weapon production and could ignite nuclear war. Another disadvantage is raising amount of nuclear waste that comes from nuclear power plants. Due to the fact that it is very expensive and in some cases even impossible to degrade radioactive waste, most of the countries have decided just to collect and store it for unknown period of time in underground warehouses. Although several scientific groups are pursuing a sustainable disposal technology for decades, there has not been a significant progress. In my opinion, probably the biggest threat for the society is nuclear power plant failures that could lead to disastrous consequences both to environment and human being.
To conclude, I disagree that the benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. I think, significant advances in nuclear processing technology are needed to safely exploit nuclear energy.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
Advances in nuclear processing have gave us a low cost energy source, but at the same time nuclear power can be used against human being. There are several advantages of exploiting nuclear energy, for example, very low CO2 footprint, high energy capacity and low costs to consumer compared to other energy sources. On the other hand, nuclear power has serious drawbacks, for instance, threats of nuclear war, disastrous power plant failures and lack of proper radioactive waste degradation technology.
First of all, nuclear energy is one of the cleanest in terms of carbon dioxide production, and for decades it has been outcompeted conventional fossil fuel energy which is directly responsible for greenhouse effect nowadays. In addition, nuclear raw material contains far more Joules per kilogram of fuel than energy sources like hydrogen, shale gas or petroleum. Furthermore, previously mentioned aspects make nuclear energy as one of the cheapest options for nation’s energy politics due to the fact that raw materials are widely abundant and accessible.
Secondly, in recent decade society is highly concerned about major drawbacks of nuclear power, especially growth of nuclear stocks in Middle East, as they can be used for nuclear weapon production and could ignite nuclear war. Another disadvantage is raising amount of nuclear waste that comes from nuclear power plants. Due to the fact that it is very expensive and in some cases even impossible to degrade radioactive waste, most of the countries have decided just to collect and store it for unknown period of time in underground warehouses. Although several scientific groups are pursuing a sustainable disposal technology for decades, there has not been a significant progress. In my opinion, probably the biggest threat for the society is nuclear power plant failures that could lead to disastrous consequences both to environment and human being.
To conclude, I disagree that the benefits of nuclear technology far outweigh the disadvantages. I think, significant advances in nuclear processing technology are needed to safely exploit nuclear energy.
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