Nuclear Power: The Controversial Issues
Fission Energy: What is nuclear power?
Radioactive materials, such as uranium, are composed of nuclei that are unstable. An unstable nucleus gives off its excess energy and particles until it becomes stable. Uranium-235 is used in nuclear reactors as its unstable atoms can be induced to undergo fission (splitting) if hit by an atomic particle called a neutron. When this happens, energy is released.
Fossil fuels which currently supply most of our energy are not in endless supply.
The World Energy Council predicts that by 2020 Western European oil and gas reserves will be low with coal reserves lasting only 200 to 300 years longer. We also need to replace fossil fuels with energy sources that do not emit carbon dioxide and contribute to global warming and climate change. Some people believe that nuclear power could be the answer to our energy crisis, but accidents such as Chernobyl promote fears about the dangers of its use. Supporters of nuclear energy point out that hundreds more people have died of smog pollution from burning fossil fuel than from nuclear accidents.
What are the benefits of nuclear power?
Nuclear power potentially offers large quantities of energy and does not release carbon dioxide or pollutant gases such as sulphur dioxide. These pollutants are believed to cause the greenhouse effect and global warming.
n A sphere of enriched uranium the size of a baseball can produce as much energy as a 50ft tank filled with gasoline.
n There are 438 operating nuclear power plants in 30 countries around the world. 100 are in the United States.
n Nuclear power is generated in 30 countries around the world. In 2000, France, Lithuania and Belgium all used nuclear power to generate over half of their electricity.
n On average, 17 percent of the world's electricity supply is generated from nuclear power, avoiding 2 billion tons of CO2 pollution emissions annually.
Nuclear Power plants operating in the United States
People should be aware that nuclear power has many risks
Though nuclear power does not create pollutants like carbon dioxide, nuclear fuel does create radioactive waste that can remain radioactive for hundreds of years. People fear that accidents and lack of safety measures could endanger people and the environment.
There are a number of objections to nuclear power:
1. Risk to human health and environment from ionizing radiation released.
2. Problems of waste disposal and long lasting radioactive effects of waste.
3. Accidents like the Chernobyl disaster could have potentially devastating effects on health, environment and economy.
4. Shipment of fuel greatly increases global environmental and security risks. An accident at sea would be far harder to deal with than on land.
5. Plants are costly; critics claim nuclear power is uneconomic and unsuitable for poorer nations.
Alternatives to Nuclear Power – Renewable Energy
Despite the potential benefits, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace believe that nuclear power is inherently unsafe and instead recommend investment in Green Energy – renewable energy sources such as the sun, the sea and the wind, that are clean, safe and won’t run out. Fusion energy (from the combining rather than splitting of atoms) has also been discussed as an alternative to fission energy, offering the benefits of nuclear power without the risks. There are two types of nuclear fusion being investigated: hot (similar to the reactions that take place in the sun and other stars) and cold.
What Do You Think?
Could nuclear power be the answer to global warming, or are the risks too great? How would you feel about living near a nuclear power plant? What do you think about renewable energy?