If we look at the history of human usage of energy, the sun was the first energy source that gave us light and heat. The discovery of fire resulted in the possibility of burning wood for cooking and heating. Renewable sources of energy such as sun, wind, biomass, and hydropower were the only sources of energy for humans for thousands of years. Fuelwood and dung cakes were also used for burning and producing heat.
The Growing demand for electricity and concern for the environment has created an urgent need to find alternative energy to fossil fuels to generate cleaner electricity all over the world. It becomes extremely important to maintain a stable and economically feasible supply of energy, and at the same time, it is also important to attain the best possible combination among all the sources of energy available such as hydroelectric, thermal, nuclear, and renewable energy in a sustainable manner. I do agree that every form of energy conversion, either using fossil fuel or nuclear power or any other in the process of transforming primary energy into electricity, has some environmental implications. In case electricity is produced all over the world by nuclear reactors instead of by burning coal, experts suggest that it will contribute to an additional 2600 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere annually.
Therefore, this can contribute to the goal of reducing CO2 emission by 5% (600 million tonnes per year) by the year 2010. Over and above, it is estimated that with every 22 tonnes of uranium used for electricity generation, the emission of one million tonnes of CO2 can be avoided when compared to coal. In many countries, in recent years, nuclear power and natural gas have been adopted, and simultaneously the energy share from oil reduced by over half of the total. As we all know, global warming is a major concern caused by carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases. Studies have proven that the amount of carbon dioxide emission per kWh by fossil fuels is more than ten times that by nuclear energy and renewable energy. Hence, it is essential to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels for the generation of electricity.
The second most important concern with nuclear power is radioactive waste generation and its management. It is essential to dispose of radioactive waste very safely. It is, therefore, essential to formulate policies that will benefit them long term and reduce the burden on the environment. The proponents of nuclear power suggest that nuclear power does not produce emissions of airborne pollutants or carbon dioxide and that solid wastes produced are small in volume compared to wastes from fossil-fuelled plants.
However, it is also important to consider the opponents’ view of nuclear power that accidental releases of radiation and nuclear wastes pose grave threats to the environment. Hence, it is most important to take into consideration the safety precautions more seriously than any other aspect while planning for a nuclear power plant. I will support a sustainable approach for the use of nuclear power with adequate safety precautions.