Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy… Boon or Bane ?
Nuclear energy? Nowadays these two words are always sticking on the society’s mouth, but do they know the actual meaning of it? Nuclear energy is basically defined as the energy released by the reaction within the nuclei, as in nuclear fission or fusion. The core reason of using nuclear energy is to generate electric power to satisfy human needs. Usage of the nuclear power plant as an energy generator came together with several boons and banes. As quoted by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong about the nuclear energy as an, “important part of the solution to mankind’s energy problems”. (Chang, R, 2 November 2010, Govt preparing for nuclear power option, p. A1)
There are boons and banes for nuclear energy and starting with the boons, nuclear power stations requires lesser fuel then power stations which burn fossil fuels to produce the electrical power of the same amount. An illustration of the radioactive substance used by the nuclear power plant is uranium and plutonium.(Leh, Y. K. ,Chuan, K. K.,Chang, S. L. ,2008, Radioactivity, p.534). Nuclear energy releases million times more energy if compared to other alternative such as hydro or wind energy.(Pandit, R, 2011,Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy, para. 5). Thus, using nuclear power plants to produce electrical energy not only it is efficient but also saves cost.
Secondly, the production of nuclear energy does not release greenhouse gases during the reaction. The production of nuclear energy is to be considered as carbon-free. A few examples of the greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and chlorofluorocarbon. These greenhouse gases are a huge threat in the current situation, as they cause global warming and climate change. The effect toward the environment is very minimal as there is no release of the greenhouse gases during the nuclear reaction.(Pandit, R, 2011,Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy, para. 5)
Conversely,
Nuclear energy? Nowadays these two words are always sticking on the society’s mouth, but do they know the actual meaning of it? Nuclear energy is basically defined as the energy released by the reaction within the nuclei, as in nuclear fission or fusion. The core reason of using nuclear energy is to generate electric power to satisfy human needs. Usage of the nuclear power plant as an energy generator came together with several boons and banes. As quoted by the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong about the nuclear energy as an, “important part of the solution to mankind’s energy problems”. (Chang, R, 2 November 2010, Govt preparing for nuclear power option, p. A1)
There are boons and banes for nuclear energy and starting with the boons, nuclear power stations requires lesser fuel then power stations which burn fossil fuels to produce the electrical power of the same amount. An illustration of the radioactive substance used by the nuclear power plant is uranium and plutonium.(Leh, Y. K. ,Chuan, K. K.,Chang, S. L. ,2008, Radioactivity, p.534). Nuclear energy releases million times more energy if compared to other alternative such as hydro or wind energy.(Pandit, R, 2011,Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy, para. 5). Thus, using nuclear power plants to produce electrical energy not only it is efficient but also saves cost.
Secondly, the production of nuclear energy does not release greenhouse gases during the reaction. The production of nuclear energy is to be considered as carbon-free. A few examples of the greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and chlorofluorocarbon. These greenhouse gases are a huge threat in the current situation, as they cause global warming and climate change. The effect toward the environment is very minimal as there is no release of the greenhouse gases during the nuclear reaction.(Pandit, R, 2011,Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy, para. 5)
Conversely,