Into a Clean and Safe Method of Manufacturing Power: Nuclear Energy - Research Paper Example

? Nuclear Energy number Nuclear Energy Around 11-18% of the power that is required by the worldis generated from Nuclear sources (Leipoldt). One of the major arguments against Nuclear power, its cost, has ceased to be a factor as people in the power industry have realized how the investment for a nuclear power plant is something that needs to be done only once. The cost of nuclear electricity has come down in the recent past and the impediments to the expansion of nuclear energy at this point are mainly restricted to problems that arise out of the ignorance of people regarding the processes that are associated with nuclear energy and the accidents that happen as a result of instances of human negligence. This paper shall focus on the advantages of nuclear energy as an alternative to the forms of fuel that are used at present. This paper shall also draw attention to the disadvantages that nuclear energy presents. Risks to human safety and the economic side of nuclear energy shall be discussed as a part of this. This paper shall also seek to look at the possible solutions that may evolve or have already evolved in this area, which may facilitate a safe and clean use of this form of energy for daily needs. Nuclear energy as a form of energy is a relatively new form of energy and the first reactor was created only in the twentieth century. As a result of this, many of the problems that are a part of this technology are yet to be resolved. This however, does not mean that research in this field be completely stopped. Nuclear energy is a form of energy that is produced due to nuclear reactions. The process of fission is used to split the nuclei of uranium atoms that cause an incredible amount of energy to be released. The energy that is thus released is then harnessed and used for other purposes. The immense amount of energy that is released needs to be collected in a safe manner. If this is not done, the risk of an explosion looms large and it is such an uncontrolled reaction (during fusion) that is used to create bombs that have the capacity to cause great damage to humankind. The fact that the reaction, once started, can go on through a chain reaction, adds to the charm of nuclear energy as a form of energy. “Once a uranium nucleus is split, multiple neutrons are released which are used to split other uranium nuclei. This phenomenon is known as a chain reaction.” (Nuclear Energy). Several measures are required to keep such a reaction under control and this contributes to the high initial costs of nuclear energy. The history of nuclear energy, thus, is a short one. The first instance where a controlled nuclear reaction was achieved, was in 1942 –“the first controlled nuclear chain reaction with the first demonstration reactor—the Chicago Pile 1”. The person associated with this event was Dr. Enrico Fermi. In the same decade, in 1945, the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki led to the recognition of the harmful effects of nuclear energy. The first instance of the production of electricity using nuclear energy occurred in 1951. The following decades saw the rise of many nuclear power generators which provided electricity to many people all over the world. An important event in this timeline would be the accident at Three Mile Island in 1979 that showed the world that damage could be done even through civilian nuclear reactors when harm was not intended. No one, however, was injured and it was only till the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine that the extent of the damage that civilian nuclear power could inflict was realized. The Fukushima disaster in 2011 cemented the place of nuclear energy as an unsafe form of energy in the minds of many (Nuclear Technology Milestone). As far as the legal aspect of controlling something as explosive as nuclear power goes, there are various laws that seek to curb the manner in which nuclear energy is used around the world. Every country has its own laws to govern its nuclear policy that conforms to certain broad codes that are laid down by the international community. Laws such as the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 and the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 are designed to provide maximum protection to the civilian population and also to delegate the responsibility for waste disposal to the generator of nuclear power. This arrangement makes it clear that the production of nuclear fuel would be expected to fulfill the basic objective of its use, that is, responsibility towards the environment and sustainability. The dangers of highly radioactive waste and the costs involved are too well known for these matters to be left without any discussion. The Atomic Energy Act of 1954 allows only those reactors that meet certain safety measures to be set up. “On the civilian side, it provides for both the development and the regulation of the uses of nuclear materials and facilities in the United States, declaring the policy that ‘the development, use, and control of atomic energy shall be directed so as to promote world peace, improve the general welfare, increase the standard of living, and strengthen free competition in private enterprise.’ ” (Our Governing Legislation). Apart from assuring safety, this measure also infuses people with confidence regarding the safety of nuclear reactors. There definitely are several problems that surround the introduction of Nuclear energy. Safety is one of the most important concerns in this matter. The example of Chernobyl which killed a lot of people is something that needs to be remembered while taking any policy decision about nuclear energy. Instances of human negligence such as Chernobyl should not happen. “It is thought that the reason for the accident is the unexperienced staff”. (Causes of Chernobyl Accident). A nuclear reactor must also be able to withstand the force of natural disasters as well since if it cannot, then a natural disaster stands the risk of being compounded. The Fukushima disaster is an example of such a disaster. In the case of the Fukushima reactor, the effect of a massive earthquake was compounded by the inability of the nuclear reactor to withstand the force of the earthquake and the tsunami that accompanied it. There were allegations that the reactor could not do so because of its age. The effects of nuclear disasters can extend to many generations as seen in the generations of people who have followed the survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. People who are exposed to the level of radiation that escapes during a nuclear disaster are genetically modified and their successive generations carry the mutations. There are other problems involved with such disasters. Countries that have faced nuclear disasters have had to go through enormous financial difficulties. This further dents the image of nuclear power in the minds of the people. The economic difficulties that Japan had to face after the Fukushima disaster is a good example of this. The cost of setting up a nuclear plant is another problem. Many countries may not be able to afford a nuclear reactor and this may lead to the widening of the rich-poor divide, globally. Who may have nuclear energy and who may not is also often a diplomatic decision that is taken by the international community and political considerations may override sensible ideas in these cases. The problems that have been discussed here are not without solutions. With proper safeguards and caution, chances of human negligence can be minimized. While building a reactor, safeguards against such eventualities can be installed and these would eliminate the chances of another Chernobyl. “An intelligent combination of energy conservation, and renewable energies for local low-intensity applications, and nuclear energy for base-load electricity production, is the only viable way for the future.” (Comby). A responsible use of nuclear power can also prevent any use of nuclear energy for the purposes of war. Every nuclear power at this point of time is aware that a nuclear war cannot be won because of the sheer magnitude of the misery that it would cause to either side of the battlefield. There are also solutions to the issue of financial viability and equitable distribution of nuclear energy. Since the majority of the expenses of a nuclear reactor involve the setting up of it, the international community can agree to install reactors in poorer countries. This, apart from improving the infrastructure of this country by providing it with more power, shall also create more jobs, further strengthening that country’s economy. Apart from taking safety measures during the construction and installment of a nuclear reactor, care must also be taken in order to adhere to guidelines of safety while the reactor is functioning. Any leakage during this stage would lead to great damage to life and property. Adequate monitoring of reactors should be done and reactors that have reached a certain age must be renovated according to the latest safety guidelines that are issued by the international community. Such guidelines must be periodically reviewed and revised. Bodies at national and international levels that are assigned the responsibility to monitor these may be the solution to the problem of avoiding situations such as Fukushima which was caused primarily due to the lack of monitoring that led to the Japanese government’s negligence of the need to review the status of the reactor. Nuclear energy, if used well, can turn into a clean and safe method of manufacturing power. This would lead to a reduction in the use of fossil fuels that pollute the atmosphere and are also not renewable. Care must be taken so that the power of the atom is harnessed in a way that is useful and harmless to all the stakeholders involved. Works Cited Leipoldt, Erik. “There Are Advantages Of Nuclear Energy As There Are Challenges”. Alternate Energy Sources. http://www.alternate-energy-sources.com/advantages-of-nuclear- energy.html Accessed on 16th January, 2012. “Nuclear Energy”. Oracle ThinkQuest Educational Foundation. http://library.thinkquest.org/3471/nuclear_energy_body.html# Accessed on 16th January, 2012. “Nuclear Technology Milestone: 1942-1998”. Oracle ThinkQuest Educational Foundation. http://library.thinkquest.org/C005271F/timeline.html Accessed on 16th January, 2012. “Our Governing Legislation”. United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission. http://www.nrc.gov/about-nrc/governing-laws.html. Accessed on 16th January, 2012. Causes of Chernobyl Accident. http://chernobyl-disaster.com/causes-of-chernobyl-disaster.php. Accessed on 16th January, 2012. Comby, Bruno. The Benefits of Nuclear Energy. http://www.ecolo.org/documents/documents_in_english/BENEFITS-of-NUCLEAR.pdf Accessed on 16th January, 2012. Read More