An Introduction to Nuclear Energy
We can see the perplexed looks. Many of you might be wondering why a blog about environmental issues would include an introduction to “nuclear energy.” Let’s consider that in context. Although environmentalists have traditionally opposed nuclear energy, some scientists now contend that it is one of the most “carbon-free” forms of energy since the fission process it uses emits almost no greenhouse gases. Need to know more? A succinct overview of nuclear energy is provided below.
What exactly is nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy is the source of energy found in the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Once extracted, this energy can be used to generate electricity in a reactor through two types of atomic reactions: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. Uranium used as fuel causes atoms to split into two or more nuclei during the latter. The energy released by fission produces heat, which causes a cooling agent, typically water, to boil. The steam produced by boiling or pressurized water is then routed to spin turbines, which generate electricity. Reactors use uranium as fuel to generate nuclear fission.
For centuries, fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and petroleum allowed economies all over the world to industrialize.
What Is the Process of Nuclear Energy?
Heat is produced when an atom splits (and therefore energy). The initial fission process not only generates energy, but it also initiates a chain reaction among released neutrons, which repeats the process and generates even more energy. The heat produced by fission in a nuclear power plant is used to generate steam, which turns a turbine and eventually produces electricity. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, or NRC, oversees all nuclear power plants in the United States.
Is Nuclear Power “Greener” Than Other Energy Sources Like Fossil Fuels?
There is a lot of disagreement about this. Nuclear energy has the advantage of producing very few (or no) harmful greenhouse gases. Furthermore, nuclear energy does not emit two of the harmful chemicals that cause acid rain: sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Nuclear Energy’s BenefitsFrance’s success in reducing emissions exemplifies some of the primary advantages of nuclear energy over fossil fuels. First and foremost, nuclear energy is non-polluting and produces no greenhouse gas emissions. Contrary to popular belief, nuclear power plant cooling towers only emit water vapour and thus do not emit any pollutant or radioactive substance into the atmosphere. Many experts believe that nuclear energy is one of the cleanest energy sources available today, when compared to all other options. Many nuclear energy supporters also claim that nuclear power is responsible for the world’s fastest decarbonization effort, with major nuclear players such as France, Saudi Arabia, Canada, and South Korea leading the way.
Another benefit of nuclear energy is that it is not affected by weather or other external factors. This gives nuclear energy an advantage over many other types of renewable energy, such as solar, wind, or wave power, whose production is frequently governed by weather patterns, sunlight availability, and so on.
Nuclear Energy Disadvantages
For several reasons, the anti-nuclear movement opposes the use of this type of energy. The first and most widely discussed disadvantage of nuclear energy is nuclear weapon proliferation, a debate sparked by the deadly atomic bombings of the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII and recently reopened in response to rising concerns about nuclear escalation in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. After the world witnessed the highly destructive effect of these bombs, which killed tens of thousands of people not only during the impact but also in the days, weeks, and months following the tragedy as a result of radiation sickness, nuclear energy evolved to a pure source of electricity. In 1970.
Who Wins the Nuclear Debate? There are a multitude of advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy and the debate on whether to keep this technology or find other alternatives is destined to continue in the years to come. Nuclear power can be a highly destructive weapon, but the risks of a nuclear catastrophe are relatively low. While historic nuclear disasters can be counted on the fingers of a single hand, they are remembered for their devastating impact and the life-threatening consequences they sparked (or almost sparked). However, it is important to remember that fossil fuels like coal and oil represent a much bigger threat and silently kill millions of people every year worldwide.
Another big aspect to take into account, and one that is currently discussed by global leaders, is the dependence of some of the world’s largest economies on countries like Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq for fossil fuels. While the 2011 Fukushima disaster, for example, pushed the then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel to close all of Germany’s nuclear plants, her decision only increased the country’s dependence on much more polluting Russian oil.
Nuclear supporters argue that relying on nuclear energy would decrease the energy dependency from third countries. However, raw materials such as the uranium needed to make plants function would still need to be imported from countries like Canada, Kazakhstan, and Australia. The debate thus shifts to another problem: which countries should we rely on for imports and, most importantly, is it worth keeping these dependencies?
By: Wahyu Rosyita Widhayanti
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