Nuclear Power for Sustainable Development - Assignment Example

NUCLEAR ENERGY and Nuclear Energy Introduction As humans, we need energy. Energy is significant inmany fields; we require it for heating, warming our homes, transports system and run our technology. Technology is evolving as such; things previously done by human have been automated. Energy production is important to match with the global needs. Our reliance on energy for many years, however, has been on fossil fuels. For example, close to 86% of the United States energy is generated from fossil fuels. The use of fossils fuels contributes immensely to environmental degradation through air pollution mostly by Carbon dioxide. Furthermore, energy from fossil fuels is the most inefficient energy because most of it is wasted. Nuclear energy is alternative, efficient and non-pollutant source of energy. Nuclear is less likely to pollute the environment if some measures such as safe the radioactive waste. Nuclear Energy Hore-Lacy (2010, p.15) reveals that nuclear energy is a competitive, safe, reliable, and clean energy. Additionally, the author argues that Nuclear energy is an alternative energy for pollutants fossil fuels. Fossil fuels contribute significantly to greenhouse gas and pollute the environment. The author argues that there is a need to look for alternative sources of energy especially renewable sources such as solar and wind. The call for renewable sources of energy is because they are efficient and safe for the environment. However, the author points out that solar and wind cannot meet the requirements of the world population. Additionally, the world is developing fast, and there is a need for more efficient, effective sources of energy. Nuclear energy is the alternative that can replace fossil fuels such as oil and coal. Advanced economies and developing countries should consider nuclear power as their main source of energy. The Move to Nuclear Energy For the past few years, many countries across the world have been calling for the revival of nuclear energy. Nuclear reactors that had been closed down for safety reasons are likely to be modified to match with the current needs. Some developed and developing countries are calling for the construction of nuclear reactors. The U.S. recently approved contraction of new reactors based on the new reactor design that match with the current standards. Construction of new reactor in the U.S. was approved despite the fact that it had been stopped for many years (Taylor 1989, p.319). Nuclear energy in Europe has become an issue debated on many occasions. It has emerged as one of the key elements of EU climate change policy. Finland recently approved the construction of fifth nuclear reactor after it was approved by the parliament. Finland nuclear reactor was approved by the parliament in 2002. As such, it was a decision made in Western Europe after many years that characterised criticism of nuclear energy. The UK also approved construction of the nuclear reactor in January 2008. Italy also called for the reintroduction of nuclear energy only after two decades of referendum that shot down nuclear energy as alternative sources of power. Other developed countries that are currently constructing nuclear reactors are Sweden, Germany, Hungary and Netherlands (Adamantiades and Kessides 2009, p. 5149). Close to 40 developing countries right from Gulf to Latin America are interested in nuclear energy. They have recently contacted the United Nations to clarify their needs for nuclear energy. Despite the laxity in Europe and North America in the adoption of nuclear energy, countries that require nuclear power in Asia are increasing. Close to 21 reactors are under construction in South and Eastern part of Asia (Adamantiades and Kessides 2009, p. 5149). Increasing Interest of Nuclear Power There are several factors that foster the interest in nuclear power. The reduction of dependency on fossil fuel, immunity for power failure and diversification of fuel sources are some factors to interest of nuclear energy. Other factors are mitigation of environmental pollution resulting from fossil fuels and transition to the hydrogen economy. Energy Security Many countries rely mostly on imported fuel. As such, they are at risks from disruption of their supplies either politically or naturally. To avoid such cases, countries are advised under Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and International Energy Agency to stockpile their fuel. However, not many countries can maintain fuel reserves that can go for many years. On average, many countries have fuel reserves that last for 63 days. Additionally, many countries rely on fuel transiting from the sources through pipelines or sea. However, such places, where their fuel passes through are not always stable politically or naturally. This can be a great challenge to the economy; as such nuclear energy is the best alternative. Nonetheless, it is not that every country globally that have had interest in nuclear power has raw materials such as uranium. Such countries still have to import from other countries. However, nuclear energy is still the best option for countries that will have to import either fuel or uranium. It is because uranium has high energy intensity than fossil fuel. Therefore, it can last longer. A stockpile of Uranium can be used for many years hence it can mitigate cases of fuel destruction. Fossil Fuel Volatility The cost of electricity generation is calculated in terms of the expenses incurred during the contractions of plant, operations and maintenances costs and fuel costs. Similarly, construction of nuclear power station also includes the same requirements as electricity generation plant. There is, however, one difference that adds up one component needed evaluating the costs of nuclear power plant. Decommissioning is added up to costs similar to electricity generation power plant. These are costs required when the need of dismantling the plant arises; it also covers the costs needed to manage waste materials from the plant. One might argue that costs required for building and maintenances of the nuclear plant are more so it is not viable. However, electricity power plants operating using fuel is not viable because unlike nuclear power plant, it is not immune to fuel costs volatility. Climate Change For the past two decades, people have started taking measures to curb the increasing pollution that has changed the climate. The cause of climate change is attributed to emission of greenhouse gases that has prevented heat from the sun from escaping to the atmosphere. Leaders from developed and developing countries met in Rio de Janeiro and signed Kyoto Protocol. Despite the call for the reduction of greenhouse gases in many developed and developing countries, air pollution is still rampant. Evidence is clear from the rising sea level, melting of ice at polar, loss of biodiversity and repeated cases of extreme weather conditions. Adamantiades and Kessides (2009, p. 5150) explain that global warming resulting from greenhouse gases is likely to cut down gross domestic product, GDP by 25%. Additionally, the costs that the world will spend in curbing global warming are approximately 1% of the world GDP. There is a need to move to nuclear energy or renewable energy to prevent the rising climate change. Renewable technologies such as wind and solar energy emit close to 0% greenhouse gases. Similarly, nuclear energy contributes a small amount of greenhouse gases. This amount is not as dangerous as quantity contributed by burning fossil fuel. Nuclear energy is the best method of reducing greenhouse gas emission globally. Research by Adamantiades and Kessides (2009, p. 5150) show that nuclear energy save up to 10% of greenhouse gases that will have been emitted by fossil fuel energy. Failure to adopt nuclear reactors as sources of energy will see an increase of CO2 in the atmosphere by 2.5 billion tonnes a year. Development and Deployment of the Nuclear Reactor There are several factors that determine the deployment and development of nuclear reactors. Some of these factors are safety, security, cost effectiveness and commercialization road mad and grid appropriateness. For many decades since the first use of nuclear power to generate electricity, the design of nuclear reactors has several categories. The design of the nuclear reactor is categorized into Generations. The move from one generation to another is determined by the attributes such as cost, security, and others mentioned earlier. For example, generation III is cheaper than generation IV. However, generation IV is more advantageous than generation III because it uses by-products. As such, generation IV is good for the environment because it minimizes wastes and reduce dependency of uranium. Generation IV is still under consideration, but it is likely to be developed by the year 2020. The most common reactors currently are generation 3+, operational in Japan. Generation II are used by the U.S and French fleets (Goldberg & Rosner 2011, p. 4). Challenges of Developing Nuclear Energy The study indicates that nuclear energy is worthwhile as compared to fossil fuel. However, the government or any other agency taking step to developing nuclear power plant faces many challenges. Challenges might be a few for developed countries that have had a taste of nuclear power. However, for emerging economies, construction and maintenance of nuclear power plant is challenging. Anadon et al. (2011, p.1) explains that nuclear energy requires economic support, as such, issues like safety, nuclear waste management and proliferation resistance is easy to tackle. As such, the factors mentioned require high-end technology, new policies and research, development and demonstration, RD&D. The future nuclear plants have to be strong enough so as to withstand challenges such as natural disasters. The world recently witnessed Fukushima accident in Japan that led to exposure of radioactive content to the population. Such cases are leading examples that show the need to invest heavily on RD&D for nuclear. The design of nuclear power plant has to be done in such a way it can withstand natural disasters. The main objective of the current research, development and demonstration of nuclear power plants is to address the costs competitiveness, the extension of uranium resources and management by-products. Proliferation-Resistance and safety standards are also aspects under the target of RD&D. Proliferation-Resistance here entails reduction of risks resulting from misuse of radioactive materials to make things like nuclear weapons. Developing countries are also interested in nuclear energy, but they face many challenges. Unlike developed countries, nuclear energy development in third world countries faces barriers such as finances and safety standards for plants. A report by Technology Roadmap (2010, P.9) reveals that nuclear power plant requires huge investments for a start. However, ones the plant is operational, the costs of maintenances are less. The report also shows that nuclear power plant operates for a long time as evidenced by nuclear power plant globally that has been there for close to 20 years. As mentioned earlier, development of nuclear power plant requires RD&D. As such, a state has to invest on RD&D; developed countries can manage it but, it is a challenge to developing countries. However, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) can assist developing countries financially and by providing them with materials (Hak-Gyun, P.2). Conclusion Energy is important for the human being but, there is need to address the sources of energy that is sustainable, efficient and cost effective. Additionally, energy has to be safe to the environment, that is, cases of greenhouse gas emissions should be minimal. Energy production from fossil fuel has proven inefficient, costly, and unsustainable. It is also unsafe for the environment because it emits a large amount of greenhouse gases. Nuclear energy is the best alternative because it addresses many challenges brought by fossil fuel. Greenhouse gases can be reduced significantly if nuclear energy is considered. However, nuclear energy is not easy to develop due to high costs involve. Security and safety are also other challenges to nuclear energy development. Nonetheless, those challenges can be tackled by developed countries. There is a need to assist emerging economies to reduce challenges of nuclear development. References Adamantiades, A & Kessides, I 2009, ‘Nuclear power for sustainable development: Current status and Future prospects’, Energy Policy, vol. 37, pp. 5149-5166. Anadon, DL, Bosetti, V, Bunn, M, Catenacci, M & Lee, A 2011, Research, Development, and Demonstration for the Future of Nuclear Energy, Belfer Center Policy Brief. Goldberg, MS & Rosner, R 2011, Nuclear Reactors: Generation to Generation, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, Chicago. Hak-Gyun, K, Challenges and Opportunities in Launching New Nuclear Power Programs in Developing Countries, Hore-Lacy, I 2010, Nuclear Energy in the 21st Century: World Nuclear University Press, Academic Press, Massachusetts. Taylor, JJ 1989, ‘Improved and safer Nuclear Power’, Science, vol. 244, pp. 318-325. Technology Roadmap Nuclear Energy, 2010, International Energy Agency. OECD Read More