At the moment, nuclear energy is still considered very controversial and a hot issue. Nuclear power is the energy debate really about energy. It also provides stable electricity which helps prevent the frequent power outages that many areas without nuclear energy face. Clean development mechanism and nuclear power sourcewatch. Outside the core reactor the process to transform this energy in electricity is very similar to how coal or gas power stations work. The nuclear energy debate environmental communication. Nuclear energy debate presentation template for powerpoint. But there is more to the nuclear energy debate than simply technical costbenefit analysis. The nuclear power debate is a longrunning controversy about the risks and benefits of using nuclear reactors to generate electricity for civilian purposes. Sep 06, 2017 we already know that nuclear energy is not a renewable energy source because the supply of nuclear fuel is limited. For the last six decades, turkish governments have been advocating the construction of a nuclear power plant npp on the grounds that it is necessary for the development of the country, that the country needs nuclear energy for economic growth, and more importantly, that an npp would mark a milestone in turkeys journey of modernisation. Nuclear power plants produce electricity by heating water into steam in the same way as fossil fuel. We take pride in employing features most companies skip because its too much work. Cigis nuclear energy futures project is being conducted in partnership with the centre for treaty.
Thermal power plants convert heat into electricity using steam. Proponents of its use claim that it is a very clean form of energy since very little fuel is needed to generate a lot of energy. Increased concern over energy security and global climate change has led many people to take a fresh look at the benefits and risks of nuclear power for the united states and other countries. Though in france, 80% of its electricity production is from nuclear energy and more than onefourth of electricity in europe comes from nuclear energy. It is the most efficient use of the earths resources. For example, it can be made using solar panels, by burning coal, or by capturing the heat from atoms that split apart. It is commonly assumed that greenhouse gas and energy problems can be solved by switching from fossil fuel sources of energy to renewables. Nuclear energy provides more than 100,000 wellpaid, longterm jobs and supports local economies with millions of dollars in state and local tax revenues. In this firstever ted debate, stewart brand and mark z. In great energy debate, student teams learn about all of the energy sources, then. Many others, however, still see a role for nuclear in their energy transitions but are not doing enough to meet their goals. This publication is a contribution of the nuclear energy agency nea.
The nuclear debate updated april 2018 the underlying question is how electricity is best produced now and in the years to come. Working cooperatively, students develop arguments on the pros and cons of their source over the others. Nuclear energy debate presentation template includes builtin layouts and stunning backgrounds to make your presentation a winner. Nuclear energy is a proven technology for large scale base load electricity generation which can reduce dependence on imported gas and carbon dioxide. This is a debate style learning activity in which student teams learn about energy sources and are then assigned to represent the different energy sources. Pdf humanity must face the reality that it cannot depend indefinitely on combustion of coal, gas and oil for most of its energy needs. Department of energy office of nuclear energy gratefully acknowledges the following. Jun, 2011 as america struggles down the road toward a coherent energy policy that focuses on a higher degree of selfreliance, policymakers face numerous issues and realities. To meet the shortterm demand, the use of coal and other fossil fuels will increase. Switching to renewable energy is not as simple as it is being made out to be. As you can see, nuclear energy has by far the highest capacity factor of any other energy source. Nuclear poweris the energy debate really about energy.
One essential prerequisite to attaining this feat is availability of sustainable energy sources. Nuclear energy has a smaller surfacearea footprint on the land. Due to this fact, nuclear energy has once again been looked at for power production. Pdf nuclear energy policy after the fukushima nuclear. The use of nuclear power has been controversial for a long time. Sep 22, 2016 ulchin nuclear power plant, south korea credit.
Nuclear energy is proven, available today and can be expanded quickly making it an indespensible part of the solution to climate change. They are the main dangerous wastes from the process. Through international bodies on climate change, the roles of nuclear power and other. This stability contributes to governments energy plans and to ensure supply. The aim of this study is to investigate the true costs of nuclear energy, both direct. Nuclear power is a source of energy that, i believe, should be used. After the accident at three mile island, building of nuclear power generation stopped. Nov 19, 2016 carbon dioxide and similar gases, known for depleting earths atmosphere, have notoriously been an issue in the climate change debate. When the electricity is made from atoms splitting apart, its called nuclear energy. Scientists and international forums still talk about the balance between the disadvantages of nuclear energy and its pros. The debate about nuclear power peaked during the 1970s and 1980s, as more and more reactors were built and came online, and reached an intensity unprecedented in the history of technology controversies in some countries. Nuclear energy optimists suggest that a nuclear renaissance is under way.
The record matthew bunn1 in considering how to reduce the contribution of the civilian nuclear energy system to the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the future, it is important to examine what aspects of civilian nuclear energy have contributed to nuclear weapons programs in the past. The national clean energy debate is now playing out in. Nuclear energy extracts by far more energy from the natural resource uranium than does the exploitation of oil or any other natural resource. Nuclear reactors can produce potentially vast amounts. Nuclear energy nuclear power and its uses is a growing discussion in todays era of technology. Below you will find a nuclear energy pros and cons list, which covers the most important aspects of typical nuclear power plants. Weve compiled a brief introduction to nuclear energy, below. An integral tool in the clean development mechanism pdf, policy statement submitted to the united nations framework convention on climate change in september 2000. As president obamas goal is to reduce carbon emissions thirty percent by the year 2030, many state legislatures are undergoing discussions on whether or not to include nuclear power in their solution to this problem. Nuclear power is the most reliable energy source and its not. Today, the world is in so much in need of electricity that using only the conventional sources of energy cant be enough. Pdf on feb 6, 2019, tatsujiro suzuki and others published nuclear energy policy after the fukushima nuclear accident.
However, little attention has been given to exploring the limits to renewable energy. Nuclear energy can be described as energy in the nucleus or core of an atom, which is basically a small unit that results in all matter in the universe josephson, 2000, p. The debate over the introduction of nuclear power in australia has recently become more heated in light of safety concerns over the nuclear reactor meltdown emergency in japan. Also the waste produced is very very less when compared to using coal. As environmental scientists and the industrial world look for ways to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, nuclear energy seems to provide a potential solution. There is a huge amount of energy in an atoms dense nucleus. Nuclear energy is the energy in the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Nuclear energy is not a clean energy source, it is considered only a cleaner energy source than coal, oil and natural gas because produces electricity with almost no carbon emissions but generates dangerous nuclear waste. Media, communication, and the public over recent decades, nuclear energy has evolved into a global controversy in which supporters and critics of the technology employ a variety of communication strategies to shape public opinion and influence societal. With the concern about climate change and the increased cost of fossil fuels, there has been an increase interest in using nuclear energy to produce electricity. Identify some debate issues surrounding nuclear power. You may feel that you agree with some of the points that they raise, perhaps even points from both sides.
The akademik lomonosov highlights the potential for nuclear power generation in the arctic, while european countries like germany continue to. The future of nuclear energy in a carbonconstrained world. One of the biggest advantages in using nuclear power especially compared to some of the other alternative. Nuclear power plants have a more steady production of energy than hydroelectric, tidal and solar power generation. The world energy demand is projected to grow by 50% by 2030. Advanced reactors, including small modular reactors smrs, offer more applications beyond electricity. This is one of the main advantages that have encouraged many countries to invest in nuclear power. All of the very heavy wind energy components must first be manufactured from metals, plastics and other substances which themselves must be mined, refined and transported in multiple steps. The attention we pay to the finest detail make this presentation template truly worldclass. Blend common core ela requirements as you dive into physical or earth sciences content.
A discussion thatll make you think and might even change your mind. There are 104 commercial nuclear power plants in the united states producing a whopping 806. Clean, reliable nuclear energy is a critical part of u. Nuclear power allows us to continue to power our lives without having to pollute the air. The energy debates is a livescience series about the pros, cons, policy debates, myths and facts related to various alternative energy ideas. Sep 14, 2018 nuclear energy is the energy contained in the nucleus of atoms. Australia has also just committed to a carbon trading scheme to address its reliance on coalfired energy and reduce greenhouse emissions. Hoever, there are also disadvantages to the use of nuclear energy. Its common sense because nuclear energy, despite its.
For a complete list and pdf versions of publications by the frederick s. But the tokyo electric company tepco has been asserting that the direct cause of the disaster was the larger than expected tsunami. International nuclear forum, nuclear energy projects. Nuclear energy is used in multiple applications, but the best known application is the generation of electricity. But i support massive spending on renewables, as on nuclear, because of the pressing need to get rid of as much fossil fuel from our energy mix as possible, as quickly as possible. On the other hand, some people consider nuclear energy renewable because the element thorium and other new technologies may provide infinite fuel needed to power nuclear reactors. But the debate should be based on the reality of high costs, the hazards of radiation exposure, and severe, albeit infrequent, accidents. Nuclear energy is arguably the cheapest lowcarbon option of power generation. Nuclear power plant virtual field trip handout answer key. Also, technological advancements have allowed nuclear energy to be the more viable option. Dec 20, 2016 just like other energy sources we people use, there can be advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy comes from uranium, a nonrenewable resource that must be mined.
The publication of the ieas first report addressing nuclear power in nearly two decades brings this important topic back into the global energy debate. The debate surrounding nuclear energy also intersects with critical u. Pros and cons of nuclear energy alternative energy. Overview of congressional issues congressional research service summary the policy debate over the role of nuclear power in the nations energy mix is rooted in the technologys fundamental characteristics. Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions that release nuclear energy to generate heat, which most frequently is then used in steam turbines to produce electricity in a nuclear power plant. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. An instrument for sustainable development or a new nuclear subsidy. Pdf why nuclear energy is sustainable and has to be part of the. In fact, a gram of uranium can generate as much electricity as four tonnes of coal. Nuclear power is extremely reliable and about 8,000 times more energy efficient than burning fossil fuels. The construction of nuclear power plants in the united states is stopping, as regulators, reactor manufact. In contrast, daniel thorpe argues that the infrastructure costs combined with social uncertainty make nuclear energy investments prohibitively expensive. Introduction nuclear energy represents only 15% of the electricity produced worldwide. Since nuclear energy can support our energy needs, as demonstrated by qvist and brook, and can reduce our impact on dangerous climate change, it is reasonable to assert that nuclear energy should be utilized in the united states.
These calculations are based on data from the epa and nei image via nuclear energy. We use energy to cook, get around, and send emails. In this lesson for middle to high school, students will obtain, evaluate, and critically discuss information about the highlydebated topic of nuclear energy. A new study of consumers attitudes toward coal and nuclear energy sources finds that factors other than. The dream of the early atomic workers of beating swords into plowshares and providing mankind with an abundant new source of energy has apparently reached practicality when the welfare of the world may depend. Now that you have explored the science behind nuclear power and all the key issues surrounding its use, take time to reflect on the arguments for and against nuclear power. Apr 04, 2011 cnn s panel debate on the future of nuclear energy takes place later this month. Europes nuclear energy debate as a result of fearmongering and anti nuclear pressure, europe is failing to keep pace with rivals like russia and china when it comes to producing clean nuclear power. Safe and sustainable energy source with no carbon and air pollution emissions, decreases dependence on imported energy sources, supplies dispatchable electricity.
Dec 21, 2017 nuclear energy pros and cons can be separated into the nongreenhouse gas emitter, consistent supply of energy, and low operating cost for nuclear energy pros compared to potentially highly environmentally damaging, high startup cost, and radioactive waste disposal for nuclear energy cons. Nuclear energy seems like a good solution as fossil fuels become harder to find, however until we can develop a process to handle the nuclear waste it will not work in the long term. Nuclear energy is coming up as a great alternative, but various factors support as well as oppose. An introduction to nuclear energy just energy blog. And finally, when having this sort of debate, we should avoid arguing about 1960sera technology, as has been seen to fail at fukushima. The case for new nuclear plants in the us 2 and growing fossil fuel imports and consumption total u.
Here malcolm grimston of chatham house and kumi naidoo of greenpeace express their opinions on the nuclear energy. Atom s are tiny units that make up all matter in the universe, and e nergy is what holds the nucleus together. There is indeed a legitimate, democratic debate to be had about whether or not nuclear power is essential to mitigate global warming. Jan 27, 2017 among the benefits of nuclear energy we also count the fact that its very efficient and powerful more so than any other alternative source of energy. Pdf many countries rethought their domestic nuclear power programs after the meltdowns at the fukushima daiichi nuclear power station.
The debate about nuclear power peaked during the 1970s and 1980s, as more and more reactors were built and came online, and reached an intensity unprecedented in the history of technology controversies in some. Chapter 1 the future of nuclear power overview and conclusions 1 the generation of electricity from fossil fuels, notably natural gas and coal, is a major and growing contributor to the emission of carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming. Australia is one of the developed countries where the demands of energy resources are increasing rapidly. It provides data and analyses that policy makers may use to support national decision making. Nuclear power plants produce electricity by heating water into steam in the. Lets take a closer look at some of the major pros and cons of nuclear energy. As with any fuel source, though, using nuclear energy has pros and cons. However, that is not to say there are no drawbacks to using nuclear energy. The amount of energy it produces is higher and production rate is fast.
The nuclear debate updated april 2018 the underlying question is how electricity is. The growing and diverse groups standing behind nuclear as a key part of the climate solution should continue to grow in the coming year. Nuclear energy is an issue that has attracted considerable attention in the recent past given the increased environmental effects of the conventional sources of energy. Of course, there are many things that have been left out this video as nuclear energy, just as with any other source, has many different factors that need to be taken into account when making.
Nuclear energy through a virtual field trip lesson. In this unit, well explore the issues associated with fossil fuels and how people are coming up with innovative sustainable energy alternatives for a brighter future. The term nuclear energy is often used to refer to the electrical energy generated by nuclear power plants. While nuclear energy has long been touted as a nogo for environmentalists, some scientists now argue that nuclear energy is one of the most carbonfree sources of energy, as the fission process involved produces little to no greenhouse gas emissions. One of the consequences of the terrible earthquake and tsunami in japan on 11 march was, of course, a leak of radiation at the fukushima nuclear power station on the countrys east coast. The measure is a critical step toward preserving pennsylvanias largest source of clean energy, said nei president and chief executive officer maria korsnick. The current debate regarding nuclear power and where it sits in terms of renewable energy is a highly contentious one. The main question and debate is whether nuclear energy should be included as a major component of 21st century plans to combat global warming and to help us meet the growing energy demand. This basically means nuclear power plants are producing maximum power more than 92% of the time during the year.
According to the nuclear energy institute nei, nuclear energy produces more cleanair energy than any other source. During the 1960s and 1970s nuclear energy was once touted as the best way to produce electricity. After the meltdown at three mile island in 1978 and the chernobyl explosion in 1986, the nuclear industry fell dormant quite a few plants stopped producing power, and the construction of new plants was brought to a halt. Jun 10, 2010 in this firstever ted debate, stewart brand and mark z. Iaea imagebank special issue call for papers environmental debates over nuclear energy. Wolfe in 1981 nuclear power provided over 8% of the worlds electricity. Including nuclear in the states alternative energy portfolio standards sends a clear message that all carbonfree sources should be valued in the same way.
Energy consumption low carbon v oil is the challenge u. Readily available drinking water is out of reach for as much as a fifth of the worlds population, a bar to human development. Twentyfive years on from the chernobyl nuclear disaster, the debate on nuclear power. Nuclear power in a clean energy system analysis iea. Introduction the dream of making the 21st century the most economically successful in human history hinges on a number of supplyside concerns. This essay discusses some of the major advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy. The challenge is to ensure adequate supply of energy while limiting the. A year after the fukushima nuclear crisis e 4 plant was damaged by the quake even before the tsunami hit the plant. Civilian nuclear energy and nuclear weapons programs. You could classify nuclear energy as nonrenewable because uranium and similar fuel sources are finite. The heat generated from nuclear fission boils water and the steam it produces make turbine generators spin, creating electricity.
459 758 1312 1038 1645 615 221 244 597 856 1259 1617 121 153 340 418 1606 1315 901 960 422 8 37 928 389 1202 272 1529 771 1022 736 1419 796 478 1100 763 1642 968 832 252 1162 648 1486 1298 50 609