Talk Eco

It is essential that we address nuclear power as a legitimate, positive source of energy supply.

Nuclear power is a highly contentious issue with strong opposition from key non-governmental organisations, such as Greenpeace. The industry’s record of corner-cutting and unresolved questions about waste disposal and energy balance are strong arguments against nuclear power.

However, nuclear power currently accounts for 20% of the UK’s energy supply and appears to be gaining support.

Government and parliamentary support for nuclear energy was confirmed with the approval of ten new nuclear sites in the UK.

This fact was clarified yet further still by the government wanting to fast track these plants into production by 2018.

There is also growing support in public opinion supporting nuclear expansion as a means of energy generation in the future.

If greenhouse gas emissions are to be curbed then nuclear power must be considered as a policy option.

The government appear to be following the correct path then in commissioning ten new plants for construction. Particularly, as the UK’s current plants are old and decaying, the last of which will become decommissioned in 2023.

However, it is not as simple as merely considering the necessity of nuclear power to meet our energy requirements. It is still unclear of the true effects nuclear energy production has on the environment and this issue must be addressed before any concrete policy is enforced.

Nuclear power’s contribution to carbon emissions is negligible according to the European Commission. This, however, relates to the actual process of energy production. It is uncertain and hard to judge what emission levels result from the mining and processing of low-quality uranium ore.

Private actors, such as The World Nuclear Association, contend that enrichment amounts to 0.1% of the CO2 from equivalent coal-fired electricity generation, or up to 3% in a worst case scenario.

Whereas, scientists commissioned by Green Parties of the European Parliament, Van Leeuwen and Smith, contend that when using ores which contain 0.02% of uranium or less more energy is consumed when processing than is produced later.

Due to the conflicting evidence surrounding nuclear energy, it appears then that the government should have had more research conducted before considering any concrete policy.

The areas of ore enrichment and waste disposal are contentious issues that need to be assessed. If enrichment is found to be a low-energy process then their pursuit of nuclear energy as a viable energy source appears to be an admirable and necessary one, providing the safe disposal of nuclear waste is ensured.

Nuclear waste is a cause for concern because it is not bio-degradable, meaning it does not decompose naturally under the affect of the atmosphere. Secondly, it causes a number of health hazards for anyone who comes into contact with the radiation from this waste. Harmful radioactive emissions can cause skin cancer and genetically alter the DNA of people coming into contact with them, the effects of which will be passed on to the descendants of these victims for many generations to come.
There are currently 3 main methods available for the disposal of nuclear waste at the moment. They are as follows:

1. Deep ocean disposal: In this method, containers made of borosilicate glass are filled up with nuclear waste. This glass has the capacity to prevent any nuclear radiation from leaking out. The container is enclosed in yet another water-tight metal container and dumped into the ocean. Though these containers are said to be leak-proof, there is a speculation that a minor quantity of radiation does manage to escape from these containers.

2. Deep geological burial: The containers used in this method are similar to the ones used in the deep ocean disposal system. But in this case, the containers are buried deep underground, in less-populated areas. This method depends on the natural decaying ability of the radioactive material for its success. The materials are buried deep under the earth for thousands of years and allowed to settle into a safe level of radioactivity.

3. Nuclear waste recycling is a new waste disposal method being looked into, in which the uranium, plutonium and other fission products are separated into different streams using chemical processes. The advantage of doing this is that these products can be re-used or disposed of more easily.

However, the recycling process is not feasible at present because many countries do not have proper facilities to implement this method, and it is also a costly process.

We need to focus on ensuring that all our nuclear waste is recycled in a safe and secure manner to allow nuclear power to truly fulfill it’s potential as a great source of energy production in the world.