Nuclear Energy Why the World

¶ … Nuclear Energy

Why the World Should Use More Nuclear Energy

Capacity to Provide Energy

The G8 and Other Developed Countries

Environment

Cost of Waste Treatment

Risks

Measures Required

Small and Advanced Nuclear Power Generation Plants

The Waste Management

The world energy requirements are souring with the passing days. The requirements are increasing in a multiplying manner as more and more populations are gaining access to developed facilities. The changing life styles and increased usage of urbanized amenities plays a vital role in increasing energy demands. The major developed countries and developing nations across the globe keep energy as their central focus to maintain the levels of growth they have already attained. Furthermore they aim to provide uninterrupted and economically viable energy for their citizens. All these factors combined require diligent planning and a long-term assessment for various sources to provide energy.

Capacity to Provide Energy:

The availability of various sources regarding provision can be related to the capacity and capability of the source to provide reliable energy. Numerous options provide various advantages and disadvantages. These advantages are in terms of the cost verses the benefits of the source. A long-term view also requires understanding the availability, viability, and usability of the energy source. The traditional sources of energy are oil, coal, wood, natural gas, and renewable energy. The technological developments have enabled energy sourcing thorough nuclear power generation plants. It is a highly technological yet economical and long-term source with reliable results (Goudie and David).

The G8 and Other Developed Countries:

The industrially developed countries enjoy a significant contribution of nuclear energy in fulfilling their requirements. The G8 are regarded as most advanced and developed nations in world. The reliance on nuclear energy in terms of their capacity and usage is as following. United States fulfills 20% of its total energy requirements through nuclear. France generates 80% of its energy form nuclear sources. Japan is also among notable countries utilizing nuclear energy. Russia has 31 nuclear reactors providing 16% of its total energy. United Kingdom generates 205 of its electricity from nuclear reactors. Canada is also among countries relying on nuclear to contribute for its national requirements of energy. China and India are also among countries relying on nuclear energy. The G8 leaders have also agreed to develop safe and secure technologies in nuclear energy filed as the capability of fulfilling energy requirements is reliable (Goudie and David).

Environment:

Environmentalists and peace protestors around the globe react to the global efforts for increased usage of nuclear energy. The basic argument is based on the safety of nuclear reactors, contaminated waste production, and accidents in nuclear reactors. All these arguments cannot undermine the capacity and cost of producing energy through nuclear sources. These arguments can be addressed through various technological and safety protocol enhancements. The nuclear energy is infect an environmentally safe source of energy production given the waste produced is treated and reused to produce energy. The emissions of fuel and gas energy are most dangerous for environment.

Cost of Waste Treatment:

The nuclear energy has the capacity to incorporate the cost of waste treatment. The waste produced through the process of energy generation is considered appropriately by the nuclear scientists and various methods of treating the waste are also incorporated. The cost incurred to treat waste still makes it an appropriate choice in terms of energy cost. The usage of other means to produce energy does not consider the cost of treating their fossils. The radioactive waste produced at each process of reducing energy is disposed off accordingly through safe treatments (Goudie and David). The amount of waste produced is also smaller than the waste produced through other sources of energy (Moore 12-16).

Risks:

The risks associated with nuclear energy are considered in multiple directions. The availability of remedies for managing these risks provides a significant ground for consideration of nuclear as a major source of energy. The risks are primarily the waste produced, nautical calamities damaging the nuclear reactors, and accidents occurring at nuclear sites. It cannot be assumed that it is completely safe to rely on nuclear energy and reactors. However the treatments of these risks are available and improvements in the systems and technologies can provide a reliable basis for appropriate risk management. These risks are discussed along with the available remedies in following sections.

Measures Required:

The measures required to manage risks identified above are dealt on priority by nuclear scientists, governments, and regulatory agencies. It is required to maintain appropriate safety measures for proliferation of nuclear technology as it is capable of developing weapons of mass destruction and nuclear bombs. The adequate audits and measures should be taken to sustain security at nuclear plants. The requirements for analytical reports concerning the geographic locations, possible threats of accidents, and safety procedures applicability in case of natural calamities is a requirement. The adequate measures taken to secure the facilities are necessary for uninterrupted supply of energy.

Small and Advanced Nuclear Power Generation Plants:

The developments are underway to design and develop safe nuclear reactors in facilitating risk resistance (Abbott). The technology utilized to develop next generation (Generation III) power producing units is highly sophisticated and it also incorporates lessons learned from various accidents including Fukushima nuclear power plant crisis in north of Japan (Farris). The certifications of the new designed units have passed several processes and four deigns for advanced technology are approved. The national Research Council (NRC) is involved in developing safe and secure small nuclear reactors for purposed of producing energy (Moore 12-16).

The Waste Management:

The technology has enabled nuclear waste of high level radioactivity to be disposed off according to the regulatory and safety requirements. The treatment of nuclear waste is one the major activities as each process produces radioactive waste (Abbott). The high level radioactive waste is disposed of deep geological waste disposal standards. All the wastes produced in nuclear power generation plants are contained and managed according to the safety regulations. The procedures and standards for disposal of radioactive waste are scientifically proven safe (Moore 12-16). The management of all energy wastes is required as it is not only the case with nuclear energy. The accurate measures for disposal of waste require conformity with safety standards for environment.