Why should students as “future decision makers” support usage of nuclear energy?
Net-zero 15 June 2022
Author: Maddie Woodside, Geography student, The University of Manchester
For those who are unsure why nuclear energy is now being spoken of as one of the cornerstone energy source solutions of the future, I have outlined in this blog briefly why I believe nuclear energy is a valuable clean energy source for achieving the UK’s net zero carbon future. This is due to its relevance for providing predictable energy, through use of new technologies such as SMRs (Small Modular Reactors), and where renewable energy sources face intermittency problems.
What is nuclear energy and why do some people have negative perceptions of it?
Nuclear energy comes from the process of fission (the splitting of uranium atoms). In simple terms, this process heats water that powers a turbine, and in turn generates electricity. Some people have negative perceptions of this process as it produces radioactive waste that if exposed to the skin can kill cells or even cause cancer. To add to this, nuclear weapons have been used for mass destruction in the past not only killing people but also destroying vast areas – therefore the concerns are not entirely irrational!
A further insight of where concern emanates from was the example of Chernobyl in 1986, arguably classed as one of the worst nuclear incidents to occur globally due to both its cost and causalities. This incident was the result of a planned safety test gone wrong and ended with several explosions that released radioactive material into the atmosphere, which was deadly for 28 people directly exposed to it. To add to this concern, just as memories of Chernobyl were fading, in 2011 there was another nuclear incident of perceived severity in Japan where a major offshore earthquake caused a 15-metre tsunami.
This flooded the emergency generators of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and cut a vital power supply. Understandably, the public had a negative reaction to this incident which led to politicians responding by decommissioning multiple nuclear power plants in Japan. It is only now, that these plants are being brought back into service.
Why should we use nuclear energy and why is it safer now?
Despite all of the negative press that nuclear energy has received previously, this industry actually has one of the very best safety records as compared to other forms of energy production. Research has produced designs including multiple built in fail-safe mechanisms that minimise any potential risks of accidents.
Due to these safety precautions and the fact that nuclear energy is “clean” (i.e. not emitting greenhouse gases), many countries have already chosen to invest in this solution together with renewable energy. It is valuable for providing energy in places where renewables are intermittent due to their climate. Now under development are a new generation of quick to build and cheaper SMRs that typically provide a third of a traditional nuclear power plant’s output energy.
Today, France produces around 70% of its electricity from “clean” nuclear energy and has just committed to building up to fourteen new nuclear reactors by 2050. Conversely, Germany is decommissioning its six remaining nuclear power plants, therefore increasing its reliance on coal as its primary energy source (which produces carbon dioxide that directly contributes to climate change). Which country do you think will achieve its net zero carbon targets first?
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