Why Renewable Energy Sources?
ENG 102
Boris Marinov
Spring 2012
Professor Sean Homer
Research Paper
Why renewable power sources are better than nuclear power?
Nuclear power is the most productive power source. However, there are several ongoing debates around the efficiency and the usage of nuclear power. Several factors such as the catastrophes in Chernobyl and Fukushima and the depleting of coal and gas reserves have led to the idea behind the renewable power sources. The renewable power sources are the future of the energy production in the world. Renewable energy is the energy that comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind and hydro sources. Those sources are naturally replenished and harmless for the environment. Around 19% of world’s electricity generation comes from renewables.
Nuclear energy is the most effective and debatable power source. From the opponent’s point of view, Greenpeace International stated that the Chernobyl catastrophe has been the greatest technological tragedy in the history to the present days. The World Health Organization estimated that the radioactivity released because of the crash was 200 times more than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In addition, the radioactive waste remains hazardous and no acceptable solution has been found by the countries that have nuclear power plants. Also, a significant number of cancer deaths has been recorded. Moreover, it is mentioned by Greenpeace the cesium 137 which has been emitted affected 15 European countries. However, the other side of the coin refers to the studies around the safety and efficiency of the nuclear power stations. Nuclear power plants, compared to other power sources such as gas-fired power plants, are cheap in a long time despite their expensive construction. Moreover, nuclear power plants have proven to be resilient and safe. The best evidence can be found at the Fukushima catastrophe. “Not at Fukushima Daiichi, the power station where the meltdowns and
Boris Marinov
Spring 2012
Professor Sean Homer
Research Paper
Why renewable power sources are better than nuclear power?
Nuclear power is the most productive power source. However, there are several ongoing debates around the efficiency and the usage of nuclear power. Several factors such as the catastrophes in Chernobyl and Fukushima and the depleting of coal and gas reserves have led to the idea behind the renewable power sources. The renewable power sources are the future of the energy production in the world. Renewable energy is the energy that comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind and hydro sources. Those sources are naturally replenished and harmless for the environment. Around 19% of world’s electricity generation comes from renewables.
Nuclear energy is the most effective and debatable power source. From the opponent’s point of view, Greenpeace International stated that the Chernobyl catastrophe has been the greatest technological tragedy in the history to the present days. The World Health Organization estimated that the radioactivity released because of the crash was 200 times more than the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In addition, the radioactive waste remains hazardous and no acceptable solution has been found by the countries that have nuclear power plants. Also, a significant number of cancer deaths has been recorded. Moreover, it is mentioned by Greenpeace the cesium 137 which has been emitted affected 15 European countries. However, the other side of the coin refers to the studies around the safety and efficiency of the nuclear power stations. Nuclear power plants, compared to other power sources such as gas-fired power plants, are cheap in a long time despite their expensive construction. Moreover, nuclear power plants have proven to be resilient and safe. The best evidence can be found at the Fukushima catastrophe. “Not at Fukushima Daiichi, the power station where the meltdowns and
Citations: Monbiot, George. "The Nuclear Industry Stinks. But That Is Not a Reason to Ditch Nuclear Power." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 04 July 2011. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. . "Solar Power Changes Families ' Lives in Botswana." Solar Power Changes Families ' Lives in Botswana. United Nations Development Programme. Web. 10 Apr. 2012. . Paish, Oliver. "Small Hydro Power: Technology and Current Status Paish, O. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2002, 6, (6), 537–556." Fuel and Energy Abstracts44.4 (2003): 242. Science Direct. Web. 12 Apr. 2012. .