Nuclear Energy Advantages and Disadvantages

It might sound hard to understand at first, but let’s do it in easy terms. Simply put, nuclear energy is this power that comes from an atom’s center. There are two main ways to release it: fission and fusion.

You may know that a lot of energy is released when the center of an atom breaks into two or more smaller nuclei. This process is called nuclear fission. Think of a big, strong bang that happens very close to you. This is what’s going on inside nuclear power plants. And yes, U-235 is a popular fuel that they use to make this split happen. There is a lot of heat made by fission, which is then used to make steam. The turbines are turned by this steam, and that’s pretty much it! We have power!

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

1. Minimal Greenhouse Gas Emissions

You see, when it comes to carbon gasses, nuclear power plants are very, very clean actually. They don’t give off carbon dioxide (CO2) like coal and natural gas do when the uranium fuel is burned, and that’s why it is clean in nature. And we don’t even need to explain why that is so good for the human race and the environment as a whole.

2. Massive Power Output

Another cool thing about nuclear energy is that it has an incredibly high energy density. In other words, a very small amount of nuclear fuel can make a huge amount of energy. This simply means that nuclear power plants can keep making a lot of power to meet our huge energy needs.

3. Rock-Solid Reliability

That nuclear energy works every time is one of the best things about it. These power plants are always running and producing electricity, and that’s the best bit. Getting new fuel for them only takes 18 to 24 months, so you have a steady source of energy without any problems.

4. Small Land Footprint

Nuclear power plants don’t take up much room compared to other clean energy sources. Like, for coal energy, first you need to develop infrastructure to transport coal, then store it, then using it is another chaotic story, and then you get the electricity. But a nuclear power plant that makes 1,000 MW of energy only needs about one square mile of land.

5. National Security Benefits

When it comes to national security, a strong civilian nuclear industry is a big plus, always. With this kind of technology, you basically lower your dependency on other nations for fuel, like coal or anything like that.

6. Recycling Potential

There is waste from nuclear power, but here’s the good thing though: a lot of it can be recovered. Reactor fuel uranium can be cleaned up and used again, which reduces the amount of nuclear waste that needs to be thrown away. Wow, that’s something, isn’t it?

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

1. Dealing with Nuclear Waste

Getting rid of all the radioactive garbage is one of the worst things about nuclear energy. This nuclear waste is super dangerous for life on Earth, and that’s why keeping it safe is super important yet super risky. And sure, that too costs a lot of money.

2. Sky-High Initial Costs

You think nuclear power plants are easy to set up and cheap? Well, then you are not thinking quite right. You see, setting up these nuclear power plants costs a lot to the nation, money-wise. All or majority of that money goes to acquiring advanced technology and implementing a lot of safety steps.

3. The Scary Risk of Nuclear Accidents

Remember Chernobyl? Yes, that’s the very same thing we are talking about here. There is a big chance of a nuclear accident happening, even with all the safety features we have now. And humanity has already witnessed that, and that’s the reason why so many people are very skeptical about the safety of nuclear power plants.

4. Threat of Nuclear Weapons

Making nuclear bombs is possible with the same technology that is used to make nuclear energy. This is super difficult to do, but we didn’t say it is impossible. Like, if one nation invades another, and there are nuclear power plants, then they can very well be converted into nuclear weapons.

5. Limited Uranium Supply

Uranium, which is used to power nuclear plants, is not a resource that is found in abundance on Earth, there is a limited supply of it. As the amount of uranium available decreases, the prices and damage to the environment will rise when it is mined and used.

6. Public Opinion and Perception

You see, the word nuclear itself is pretty controversial around the globe. Many people are in favor of it, but others think that it is a kind of power that humanity should not have. And in the past, we have all seen how much destruction these nuclear weapons and even nuclear power plants can cause.

Quick Comparison Between for Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy