Global warming seems to have become an accepted fact with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change saying "global warning was “very likely” man-made and would bring higher temperatures and a steady rise in sea levels". The Kyoto Protocol requires 55 industrialized countries to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to target levels 5.2% below that of 1990. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) issued a report in 2003 saying "Fossil fuel-based electricity is projected to account for more than 40% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2020."
The realization that global warming could be man made and the increasing evidence that the rise in greenhouse gas could have disastrous consequences for mankind, has forced society to rethink its attitude to nuclear power. The Financial Times, one of the world's most highly respected publications, reported in November 2006: "For the first time in its 32-year history, the International Energy Agency [IEA] will urge governments around the world to help speed the construction of new nuclear power plants.
After the accidents at Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, Nuclear electricity generation became unpopular and was left to languish on the back burner by most of the developed world. Now that a reappraisal is on the cards, what exactly are the advantages and disadvantages of Nuclear Power?
The advantages can be classed as;
Availability of Nuclear Fuel
There is a limited amount of coal and gas, but according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report, “Uranium 2005: Resources, Production and Demand” current uranium reserves are for 85 years. Fast reactor technology would lengthen this period to over 2500 years.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
There are little or no greenhouse gas emissions from using uranium to generate electricity. According to the U.S. Department of Energy and the Energy Information Administration report "Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 1997" (published June 1, 1999), the single most effective emission control strategy for utilities was to increase nuclear generation. The same report states that “Nuclear generated electricity avoids almost 700 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year in the U.S.”
Energy Concentration
Nuclear energy releases great amounts of energy per unit of fuel. According to the U.S Environmental Protection Agency “the fission of one ton of uranium produces more energy than is produced by chemical combustion of several million tons of coal or several million barrels of oil.”
Economic Advantages
Because of the high cost of fossil fuels, and the energy concentration of nuclear fuel, electricity produced by nuclear power tends to be much cheaper than other forms of production. According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), “Since 2001, nuclear power plants have achieved the lowest production costs between coal, natural gas and oil. Fuel costs make up 26 percent of the overall production costs of nuclear power plants. Fuel costs for coal, natural gas and oil, however, make up more than 75 percent of the production costs. ‘
The disadvantages are;
Radioactive Waste
Nuclear reactors produce toxic waste. The waste material is highly radioactive and according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency can remain so for ten thousand years or so. Storage and management of this waste is costly and dangerous to those involved.
Nuclear Accidents
No industrial plant can be guaranteed 100% safe. If nuclear power is employed on a large scale then the chances of a "meltdown" increase. This could have disastrous effects both on people and the environment.
Nuclear Proliferation
To really diminish the amount of greenhouse gas in the atmosphere then electricity generation by nuclear power would have to be widely used throughout the world. Unfortunately one of the products of nuclear reactors is weapons grade plutonium. This could encourage the spread of nuclear weapons.
Public Disapproval
Due to its high profile accidents and the toxic waste problem, nuclear power has generated a very high disapproval rating throughout the world over the years. This resistance is proving very difficult to overcome.
Irrespective of the pros and cons of nuclear power, the precarious position of the environment has now ensured that the nuclear power option will have to be considered as a viable alternative energy in the fight against global warming.
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