Benefits and harms when producing electricity from nuclear energy

Besides the immediate benefits, nuclear power in general still has potential harms that are very dangerous. So what is it? Let's find out in this article.

The objects we see around are made up of atomic particles. Each atom has electrons, protons and nuclei as the center of the atom. Nuclear energy is obtained when the atoms are broken. There are two ways to obtain nuclear energy, namely fusion or fusion (nuclear fusion) and nuclear fission.

According to Earthnworld , the fusion reaction is a nuclear process in which two or more light atomic particles collide at high speed and form a heavier atom and subatomic particles. On the other hand the fission reaction is radioactive decay when heavier atoms begin to spew out and release energy in the form of heat and create steam.

Nuclear energy is a new way to produce electricity compared to other energy sources.

Nuclear energy is a new way to produce electricity compared to other energy sources. It has been a few decades since nuclear power was used and although it is considered to be quite safe, there have been many incidents of dangerous nuclear power in history.

Advantages of nuclear energy

1. Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

According to reports published in 1998, greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by nearly half because of the shift of nuclear power to many countries. According to many studies, nuclear energy does not emit toxic emissions such as CO2 and methane, dangerous substances that cause the greenhouse effect and global warming.

In general, nuclear energy does not have too much impact on the atmosphere although some greenhouse gases are still released during transportation of materials but it does not significantly affect air and water.

2. Nuclear energy is a stable power supply

People are now relying mainly on thermoelectricity and hydropower. In addition, we also use renewable energy sources such as solar power and wind power. However, these are the forms of energy production that depend a lot on nature, so the electricity output is unstable.

Nuclear power plants also operate with much higher capacity than other renewable power sources.

However, nuclear power production is rarely affected by objective factors. In addition, nuclear power plants also operate with much higher capacity than other renewable power sources.

3. Long-term economic benefits

The initial cost to build a nuclear plant is quite high. But if we calculate further, nuclear energy will bring significant economic efficiency. The reason for the availability of uranium, an important element for nuclear energy production. Especially in terms of economic benefits, nuclear energy is much better than coal, oil and gas, etc. Besides, nuclear power plants can run smoothly for a long time. The cost of fuel is low and the electricity production process is also cheaper than other forms.

4. Sustainable energy

Nuclear energy is now considered a sustainable energy source. Uranium is readily available in nature and nuclear energy does not affect the environment too much. However, scientists are looking for a better alternative to uranium, to turn nuclear energy into a renewable energy source.

Nuclear energy is now considered a sustainable energy source.

Estimates of Earth's reserves of uranium are sufficient for the next 80 years. However, humans have found alternative sources of uranium if they run out, thorium . Unlike uranium, thorium does not need to be treated in high temperature conditions. In addition, it also releases less waste. Countries like Japan and India are planning to use thorium in their nuclear power plants.

Disadvantages of nuclear energy

1. Waste is hazardous to the environment

Radioactive waste has long been a controversial topic. The byproduct of the fission process has not harmed us but who knows what will happen in the future if the byproducts are released into the environment. Currently, the amount of waste from about 449 nuclear power plants in the world is very large, so it is difficult for people to store in the long term.

This poses great risks. If not stored properly, waste from nuclear power production can pollute the environment. Today the sea floor is becoming a dump for nuclear submarines and nuclear waste containers. So thorough waste disposal is a top concern of researchers to save the ocean being polluted every day.

2. High risk and trouble ability

Even when carefully guarded and calculated in detail, there is the possibility of dangerous incidents such as radioactive leaks. Once an incident occurs, the destructive power of nuclear energy will be huge. Because it is an extremely powerful source of energy, even when a small amount is released into the environment, it will cause serious consequences.

The reactor explosion at the Fukushima nuclear power plant was caused by the tsunami in 2011.

In the past, lessons such as the Chernobyl plant disaster in Ukraine exploded, resulting in dozens of deaths and, later, hundreds of thousands of deaths from diseases and cancer. Or in 2011 when Japan suffered a terrible tsunami, the Fukushima nuclear power plant then had a problem caused by the earthquake and tsunami. The incident affects the reactors and leaks radioactive substances.

3. Costly construction costs

Even when it comes to many benefits, it is hard to deny that nuclear power is a modern and expensive form of electricity production. The drawback of this method is that it takes time and money to build a factory for many years. Also not easy to get a big enough ground to build a factory.

It usually takes 20-30 years to plan and successfully build a new nuclear power plant.

4. Nuclear security

Security is always our top concern when considering nuclear power. Because it is an extremely powerful source of energy and has the potential to leak, it can be used by bad objects or terrorist organizations to intimidate and even erase human civilization. Therefore, the protection of security for nuclear power plants is very important. Not to mention the restriction of errors in the operation process should also be considered.

5. Nuclear weapons

Nuclear energy production does not produce too much greenhouse gas emissions like other forms. Therefore it is a safe alternative. However, radioactive waste from nuclear power production can be used to make nuclear weapons. Plutonium is such a substance. It is an important substance to make a nuclear bomb.

Radioactive waste from nuclear power production can be used to make nuclear weapons.

Even if nuclear power offers so many benefits, it is raising national security concerns if used for political and military purposes.

Like a two-sided coin, everything has pros and cons. Therefore, despite the support of the existence of nuclear energy, the world in general and countries in particular need a common set of rules to limit the risk of nuclear weapons and threaten to erase civilization. species. On top of signing treaties and treaties will help the world monitor nations that intend to turn nuclear energy into a threat to other countries.

1. History of formation and development of nuclear energy
2. We have endless energy, but why haven't we used it yet?