Earlier in the discussion about advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy we

saw how nuclear energy is beneficial, if used in the right manner and its scope
utilised to the fullest.
However, there is a great deal of radiation danger associated with Nuclear energy. It
is capable of causing genetic disorders, thus once exposed, can affect generations
to come adversely. Another drawback is the storage of nuclear wastes, as it too can
lead to disastrous effects if not disposed or stored in the right manner.

A well known nuclear disaster was the attack on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the
United States during World War II. An experiment, as described by some, was a
grave event in the history of nuclear energy and its effects. It was the first of its
kind. Another infamous event is the Chernobyl disaster. Although an accident, it
made the world realize that controlling such a potentially great power is not entirely
in our hands. The accident happened during a test in a nuclear power plant. The
extent of damage was controlled as the plant was shut down immediately, and the
residents relocated. Even now, the city is in ruins, a pale picture of its past.

The most recent nuclear mishap was the Fukushima Accident in Japan. It was
caused by an earthquake-generated tsunami. The nuclear reactor was seismically
robust, however could not sustain the effect of the gallons of sea water that went
inside the reactor, thus leading to power failure which in turn led to overheating.
This ultimately resulted in a hydrogen explosion and subsequent events led to the
discharge of radioactive materials into the atmosphere.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

1) Radioactive minerals are unevenly distributed around the world and are found in
limited quantities.
2) Supply of high quality uranium, one of the raw material, will last only for few
decades.
3) Nuclear waste from nuclear power plant creates thermal(heat) pollution which
may damage the environment.
4) A large amount of nuclear waste is also created and disposal of this waste is a
major problem.
5) The danger of accidental discharge of radio activity also exists.

6) Starting a nuclear plant requires huge capital investment and advanced

technology.
7) Nuclear plants are opposed on moral grounds, by many groups, because of their
close linkage with development of nuclear weapons.
8) There are number of restrictions on the export or import of nuclear
technology,fuels etc.
9) Nuclear power stations are always at the risk from terrorist attack.
10) Aftermaths of Chernobyl cannot be forgotten easily.
11) Safety issues associated with nuclear power are hard to be overlooked.
12) Proliferation of nuclear technology increases the risk of nuclear war too.
13) The waste produced remains 'active' over many years and disposing it safely is
a an issue which needs to be addressed properly.
14) Nuclear power is not a renewable source of energy. Uranium is a metal that is
mined from the ground in much the same way as coal is mined. It is a scarce metal
and the supply of uranium will one day run out making all the nuclear power plants
obsolete.
What is nuclear energy?
Nuclear energy is a powerful source of energy, generated during a nuclear reaction,
by change in the nucleus of an atom. The source of nuclear energy is the mass of
the nucleus and energy generated during a nuclear reaction is due to conversion of
mass into energy(Einstein's Theory)

There are two ways to obtain nuclear energy:

1) Nuclear fission and 2)Nuclear fusion.
In a nuclear fission reaction, the nucleus of a heavy radioactive element like
uranium, plutonium or thorium splits up into smaller nuclei, when bombarded by low
energy neutrons. A huge amount of heat is generated in this process, which is used
in nuclear power plants to generate electricity.
Nuclear fusion reaction involves the combination or fusion of two light elements to
form a heavier element and release uncontrollable energy. Thus it cannot be used to
generate electricity, unlike fission reaction. Did you know that the suns energy is
generated by nuclear fusion reaction? The heat and light that we get from Sun, is all
due to the continuous reactions going on inside it. We can now imagine how much

energy would be released in the nuclear fusion reaction, that it is the source of
suns energy.
Lets cut out the technical part behind nuclear power and discuss advantages and
disadvantages of nuclear energy, starting with advantages.
Advantages of Nuclear Energy

1) As compared to other conventional energy sources, Nuclear power produces

very less amount of pollution.
2) Very small amount of raw material is required to generate huge amount of
nuclear energy. To put it into perspective, about 28gm of Uranium releases as much
amount of energy as is generated by 100 metric tonnes of coal.
3) Since they are required in small quantities, atomic materials can be easily
transported to far-off places even at a global scale. Thus transportation is easy
unless you are considering security part of it.
4) If nuclear power stations are operated upto their full capacity they can produce
cheap electricityand gain from other benefits of Nuclear energy.
5) The quantity of nuclear waste produced is also small.Cons of this advantage are
discussed in Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy.
6) It is a very reliable source of energy. The average life span of a nuclear reactor is
approx. 40 years which can be extended upto 60 years.
7) Nuclear power stations are usually very compact compared to thermal stations.
8) Although the initial capital cost of building a nuclear plant is high, the
maintenance and running costs are relatively low.

Nuclear power has great prospects in the near future as nuclear power plants are
efficient and do not produce any kind of pollution, unlike other sources. All in all, if
nuclear energy is implemented extensively and its potential is exploited well, it
would bring down the use of other important conventional sources of energy.

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