The Positive and Negitives of Nuclear Energy

Renewable sources of energy have largely been a field of energy that has been largely unexplored but now, thanks to increasing concerns over the future of earth and how we would power it, we have begun researching various forms of renewable energy. One such form that has already been around since the late 1940’s is Nuclear energy. Used to Bombard the Japanese of with the most explosive, deadly device ever conceived at that time. Now it serves a more peaceful purposes such as powering a Childs television. The Essay will show advantages/disadvantages, energy output/infrastructure, and pollution/carbon emissions.

This source of energy nuclear energy has been brought to knowledge of mankind through destructive force and will be a long time regarded with fear and suspicion, facing enough obstacles its development path for peaceful purposes. It is therefore essential familiarize the masses with nuclear issues as peaceful applications of nuclear energy are essential to progress and the evolution of human society. Some principle advantages of nuclear energy are listed. Nuclear energy is less expensive than using spent fuel: for example, a single gram of Uranium can produce the same heat produced by the combustion of coal equal to that of 1 to 2.7 tons or 9 tons of oil. To put this in perspective, one tone of Uranium produces more energy than 12 million gallons of oil; Nuclear energy is clean in their creation process than other natural methods of producing energy. Nuclear energy does not pollute it releases mainly steam as a byproduct. Unlike other sources of fossil fuels or even some renewable energy a nuclear reactor will NOT release any carbon emissions Nuclear energy is a viable and necessary option for the future. Uranium reserves, necessary for the development of nuclear energy are more consistent than other more primitive forms of mined ores coal and oil. They are expected to last at least 100 years, given that coal reserves are already in a rapid decrease, and the oil is enough for more than 47 years. Steady growth in the number of nuclear reactors and nuclear power plants will require the application of security measures to avoid possible accidents and their consequences. The disadvantages of nuclear energy are many but easily overcome. Nuclear power plants are very expensive, so in the construction process and in maintenance a nuclear plant cost between 3.2 to 12 billion dollars. The danger may be if accidents occur in the nuclear power plants such as in 1986 at Chernobyl and a few years ago in Fukushima. Nuclear power plants must also be located near a continuous source of water, uranium must be cooled continuously being one of the reasons why water source must be present near the plant having a very high rate and without the shutdown threat. Power plants produce radioactive waste that must be stored for hundreds of years before becoming harmless: necessary that they be placed in special places in well-sealed silos that do not let the outside producing leaks, which would lead to a high degree of radioactivity and consequently to human victims and the calamity zone. Nuclear energy has both good and bad points. It’s depending only on how we go about producing and updating security standards as well as understanding and learning from the past mistakes and to think of a better efficiency of this form of energy.

A little known fact about nuclear energy is that it is not energy efficient. The average yield of a nuclear plant is an estimated 30%, meaning that out of 100 grams of Uranium only 30 grams go to actually producing any energy, the rest is lost or used up during the different steps of the transformation process of potential energy. one of the challenges facing the next generation of nuclear plants will be to make the energy chain more efficient Building a large-scale nuclear reactor takes thousands of workers, huge amounts of steel and concrete, thousands of components, and several systems to provide electricity, cooling, ventilation, information, control and communication. Since the beginning there has been a strong awareness of the potential hazard of both nuclear criticality and release of radioactive materials from generating electricity with nuclear power. As in other industries, the design and operation of nuclear power plants is built to minimize the likelihood of accidents, and avoid major human consequences if they ever