For around five decades now, the world has been deriving massive energy from nuclear reactors. Globally, nuclear power has taken a huge leap but how safe is it is the question.
For assessing the dangers or safety of anything, we must first know how it works. Nuclear power is a result of a scientific process called nuclear fission which is performed under controlled conditions in a nuclear reactor.
In a nuclear plant, appropriate equipment is used to contain chain reactions which are mostly fuelled by Uranium-235 which is a radioactive element. The heat produced is used to form steam which when channeled through turbines, can produce energy in a massive amount.
Too Much Energy at One Time
Nuclear power is often considered unsafe because there are approximately 12 months of fuel in the reactor cell at any one time. It must be noted that this much energy, being accessed at any one time cannot be safe.
Even a little mishappening could cause major disasters. We are aware of one of the most dreadful disasters that mankind has come across - the Chernobyl disaster which happened in 1986.
Nuclear Waste
As a byproduct of the chemical process going on inside a nuclear reactor, radioactive waste is formed which emits harmful rays. These rays can penetrate the human skin and damage tissues internally, also increasing the risk for cancer. Irresponsibly handling this waste or disposing of it without proper safety measures can lead to degradation of the environment.
Air Quality Does Not Decline
Despite all the dangers that nuclear power brings with it, it is claimed that nuclear reactors are safely regulated and protected by passive safety measures. This makes it one of the safest sources of energy out there, not just for humans but also for the environment. Unlike coal, it is a low-carbon source of energy.
Nuclear power plants do not produce carbon dioxide in the entire process, thus, generating close to one-third of the entire world’s carbon-free electricity.
With climate change spreading its horrors ravishingly, it is a must for us to switch to sources of energy that do not prove to be a threat to the environment.
If we could replace all the energy produced by coal with nuclear energy, 800000 deaths and millions of illnesses could be prevented. The lives of workers who put their lives in danger and mine for coal for hours just to earn a reasonable amount of money would be saved.
Using nuclear power also takes us closer to achieving one of the Sustainable Development Goals.
What About Other Sources of Energy?
Every source of energy has some disadvantages and so does nuclear energy, as discussed earlier. Fossil fuel is a non-renewable source of energy and pollutes air, leads to respiratory ailments, requires a huge amount of man labor, and affects the environment negatively.
Solar energy is renewable but requires large amounts of space, can be interrupted by bad weather and some means of portable storage.
The orbiting solar power satellites are expensive, subject to being thrashed by solar storms, and require a medium to transmit power to the surface.
Hydroelectric is again, renewable energy but needs construction on a large scale, affects the local environment, and requires batteries or dome other storage means to make it available to power transportation. Similarly for tidal energy.
Wind energy is also subject to disadvantages like that of solar energy and on windless days it proves to be ineffective. All of these sources of energy are being used despite their disadvantages.
Therefore, the fact that a nuclear plant might be unsafe, should not prevent the manufacturing of nuclear power.
Where the Risks Soar
Nuclear power plants are said to be huge luring grounds for terrorists and their illegal operations. An attack at a place where such massive amounts of energy are stored can be of an unprecedented level of threat for the nation. This also puts population centers at risk, putting an uncountable number of people in danger.
Research centers and enrichment plants where uranium is stored are at potentially higher risks for the workers as well as the people living in that region. Uranium mines and radioactive waste can cause widespread contamination leaving thousands stranded for generations.
Not Enough Space and Cost
To meet the current and future needs of energy, there should be a scaling up of 14, 500 more nuclear plants and there is not enough space for such type of construction.
There is a limitation of feasible sights. The fact that most of the land available is prone to natural disasters prevents the making of more nuclear power plants.
Besides, in initiating projects for generating more nuclear power, the government authorities need to deal with the high costs of equipment required in building a power plant that is safe and concrete.
The initial costs for maintenance and fuel are much higher than the power plants of solar, wind, and other renewable sources of energy.
Nuclear power can be safe if proper measures are taken while setting up the power plant and giving proper training to the workers, otherwise, it can prove to be an inferno unasked for.
Written by - Prachi Madnani
Edited by - Gunjan Nagpal
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