2 February 2021

Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy

Nuclear energy protect air quality by producing massive amounts of carbons free electricity. It power communities in 28 US states and contributes to many non-electric applications, ranging from the medical field to space explorations. So here this article gives the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy to better understand this topic.

Pros or Advantages of nuclear energy:

  • Nuclear power plants have a high initial cost, it is relatively cheap to produce energy from them and have low operating costs.
  • Nuclear energy is that it is a reliable power generation source. 
  • The amount of nuclear fuel required in nuclear power plants is much smaller compared to those of other types of power plants. This make helps contribute to the low cost of nuclear energy. One nuclear power plant can produce thousands of energy megawatt-hours of energy.
  • Nuclear power reactors do not produce any carbon emissions, this is a huge advantage over traditional sources of energy, like fossil fuels, which releases tons of carbon into the atmosphere.
  • In nuclear energy Nuclear fusion is the holy grail of harnessing energy. If we can learn to control the atomic fusion, we could practically have unlimited energy.

Cons or Disadvantages of nuclear energy:

  • Nuclear power plants require a lot of water to produce energy for entire systems. As water becomes more scarce, especially in the face of some climate change, this enormous consumption of water could become more unsustainable.
  • Nuclear power plants produce or release zero carbon emissions, nuclear power still has a substantial impact on the environment, mainly through mining and also from water discharge.
  • Nuclear power plant places have very strict safety measures in place. However, accidents and some gases released can happen no matter how careful you are. A meltdown at a nuclear power plant can have a catastrophic impact on the surrounding area, which we know that, from events like the Fukushima disaster, and a three-mile island in Pennsylvania.
  • Generating nuclear power does not emit harmful greenhouse gases in the air for plants area, however, it does create hazardous waste. The waste created by nuclear power plants remains more dangerously radioactive for thousands of years after it is created. So many issues when trying to figure out how to store this radioactive waste.
  • A renewable energy resource is defined as a source of energy, It is not depleted when it is used, or that can be replenished within a human lifetime.  Nuclear energy is a nonrenewable energy source. This is because the fuel used in nuclear reactors is a finite resource. 

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