Nuclear Energy
Untapped potential for clean energy
The Issue
Our earth has been plagued by the usage of fossil fuels since the Industrial Revolution two hundred years ago. If we as a population do not succeed in abandoning our history of unethical energy production then our earth will cease to exist. To reach the United Nations's goal of net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2050, renewable energy must rest at the core of our mission to save our planet. The use of fossil fuels is purely responsible for 36.8 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, or 65% of the world's all-time greenhouse gas emissions. Innovative technologies have emerged and nations such as China, Costa Rica, Sweden, etc. have utilized and advanced them immediately. Several countries are on track to reach net-zero by 2050 yet, the United States is faltering. As a nation that is already graded by Climate Action Tracker to have taken insufficient action to reach net-zero goals by 2050, the potential shift in leadership towards Donald J. Trump may cause further implications.
Trump has publicly stated that he is dedicated to destroying all plans for offshore wind farms as soon as he is in office. Only 24 states in the United states have committed to net-zero goals and an unsupportive leader will not only jeopardize our future but derail it. Renewable energy has not been utilized at the rate it should be, particularly in America. However, nuclear energy is an ever-evolving field that has the highest capability to reduce carbon emissions.
What is Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms. It is most commonly produced through a type of radioactive decay called nuclear fission. Nuclear fission occurs when the nucleus of an atom is split into smaller particles, releasing energy in the process. Neutrons are fired at the nucleus of an atom, causing it to split into smaller pieces. These smaller pieces then hit other atoms, splitting them and causing a fission chain reaction.
Nuclear power reactors use heat produced during fission to boil water and produce pressurized steam. The steam is routed through the reactor steam system to spin large turbine blades that drive magnetic generators to produce electricity. The heat generated needs to be cooled to prevent a nuclear meltdown, reactors are commonly built near bodies of water to use for cooling.
Nuclear energy is not technically renewable because there is a limited amount of uranium on earth, however, it is sustainable as it can produce vast amounts of electricity with minimal amounts of fuel while releasing zero carbon emissions.
A History of Nuclear Power
1890-1945
The Birth of Nuclear Power:
1896: Radioactivity is discovered by Henri Becquerel.
1911: Ernest Rutherford proposed the nuclear model of the atom, identifying the nucleus.
1932: James Chadwick discovered the neutron, leading to the concept of nuclear reactions.
1938: Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann, with Lise Meitner and Otto Frisch, discovered nuclear fission, where splitting uranium atoms released significant energy.
1942: Enrico Fermi led the first controlled nuclear chain reaction in Chicago, marking the beginning of practical nuclear energy.
Francis Perrin introduced the concept of using water and nuclear absorbent materials to control fission reactions and harness their power.
1942-1946 (WW2): Robert J. Oppenheimer developed the first nuclear bomb in the Manhattan Project in New Mexico. The first nuclear bomb was tested at the Trinity Test site. 2 nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, causing the Japanese to surrender.
1953-1973
Commercial Use:
1953: President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave his "Atoms for Peace" speech, an attempt to change public view on nuclear power after the devastating effects of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It set off the shifting of nuclear research from weapons to energy production in the US.
1956: Atoms for Peace held an exhibit in Hiroshima, in a successful attempt to change the perception of nuclear power and to get Japan to adopt nuclear power.
1960s: The first commercial nuclear power plants are built and put into use. Westinghouse designed the first fully commercial pressure water reactor (PWR) of 250 MWe, Yankee Rowe.
1963: Plans to build a nuclear power plant by PG&E in Bodega Bay were canceled due to protests and worries about the security of the land.
1964: The first two Soviet nuclear power plants were commissioned.
1973-1979
Energy Crisis:
1973: OPEC placed an oil embargo on the US due to the US supporting Israel. Oil prices shot up, leading to an oil crisis in the US. Lines for gas stations were backed up, the country was in shambles. This led to an expansion in nuclear energy as we sought to diversify our energy sources and reduce our dependency on imported fuel.
After the oil crisis, France began rapidly building nuclear reactors. France had a pre-existing nuclear infrastructure and used standardized designs, which increased efficiency in building new nuclear plants.
1979-1990
Disaster and Protest:
1979: Three Mile Island nuclear meltdown in Pennsylvania, devastating to the American public view on nuclear energy.
Greenpeace began anti-nuclear activism
1986: Chornobyl nuclear meltdown in Ukraine led to even more intense anti-nuclear sentiment
Many reactor orders in the '70s were canceled, which reduced the cost of Uranium, and oil companies who entered the uranium field bailed out.
The share of nuclear energy in world electricity from the mid-80s stayed constant at 16-17%
1990-2011
Expansion
Late 1990s: The first of the third-generation reactors was commissioned.
1996: Kashiwazaki-Kariwa 6 in Japan begins commercial operation
The realization of the scale of increased energy demand, awareness of the importance of energy security, and the need to limit carbon emissions due to climate change all led to a revival in the hope of nuclear power.
2011-Now
Fukushima to Present
2011: On March 11th an earthquake and tsunami in Japan led to a nuclear meltdown at a power plant in Fukushima. The meltdown was a disaster and sparked a large public debate on the safety of nuclear power.
Germany, who was already against nuclear power, committed to phasing out nuclear power in their country and laid out a plan for all nuclear energy to be out by 2022.
Public opinion on nuclear energy is back on the rise and global warming and energy security are still at the forefront of problems that the US needs to tackle. The Inflation Reduction Act (2022) passed by Biden allocated billions towards clean energy sources. However, cheaper energy sources such as solar and wind are taking the spotlight from nuclear and a looming Trump presidency threatens to repeal the act.
Benefits of Nuclear Energy
Clean
Nuclear energy is a clean energy source that does not release carbon emissions into the air. Currently, nuclear power plants are the largest producer of clean energy in the US, higher than wind and solar.
Reliable
Nuclear power plants are able to operate 24/7, unlike other sources of sustainable energy like wind, solar, or tidal which depend on the time of day or season. Nuclear is one of the few clean energy sources that is endlessly available and not limited by land availability.
Efficient
Although nuclear energy is not renewable as there is a limited amount of uranium on earth, it is millions of times more efficient than coal. Just one kg of uranium fuel can produce the same amount of energy as 2.7 million kg of coal. Nuclear energy has the highest capacity factor of any other energy source, meaning that it operates closest to its maximum potential the most often.
Capacity factor = Actual output / Maximum possible output
Capacity factor = Actual output / Maximum possible output
Concerns
Public Perception
There are lots of misunderstandings when it comes to nuclear power plants. People automatically think of Chornobyl and Fukushima and are afraid of nuclear power plants. Other misinformed people associate nuclear energy with nuclear bombs. The destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki proved the immense power of nuclear weapons, striking fear into the minds of people about what would happen if nuclear warfare were to happen. Fears of nuclear winter, and nuclear energy falling into the wrong hands.
But all of these fears are unfounded. Nuclear energy is actually one of the safest forms of energy, especially when considering the number of people who die from pollution. Also, public perception of nuclear energy has been on the rise in recent years, potentially signaling that we are ready to start utilizing it.
Waste
Nuclear power plants produce nuclear waste as a byproduct that is non-degradable, meaning that it will stay on Earth for thousands of years.
However, 97-94% of nuclear waste can be recycled as nuclear fuel by extracting uranium and plutonium from the waste and forming them into new fuel rods. Nuclear waste that is not recycled is disposed of in a repository and is immobilized by mixing them with glass, through a process called vitrification. Recycling nuclear waste is far more expensive compared to just making new fuel rods. Waste recycling was researched heavily in the early stages of nuclear energy because we thought that uranium was a rare and limited resource, however, once we discovered it was abundant in the Earth's crust, we abandoned research into recycling due to the extra cost.
Nuclear waste is a problem that can easily be solved by recycling used fuel that retains around 90% of its energy potential even after 5 years of use.
Cost
Nuclear power plants are very costly to make, especially in comparison to natural gas plants and other forms of renewable energy like wind and solar. The long construction time that usually takes about 6 years, increases the deficit that nuclear plants will have to climb out of, usually taking about 20 years to turn a profit.
An energy source's ultimate determining factor in whether it will be used on a large scale or not is its cost per MWh. Nuclear energy's higher cost makes it a less attractive option for the energy industry. Without federal funding, it is unlikely for nuclear energy to grow and replace other forms of energy. Thus, the construction of new nuclear power plants has faded out since the 90s
In total, it can cost 6-9 billion dollars to build a nuclear power plant
Nuclear energy generation has stagnated since the early 90s
Nuclear energy generation has stagnated since the early 90s
The Current State of Nuclear Energy
US
There are 54 nuclear power plants in the US with 93 reactors. 28 states have at least one nuclear energy reactor. Nuclear accounts for about 20% of all energy in the US, with fossil fuels making up 60%.
The average age of these reactors is about 42 years old. The oldest reactor, Nine Mile Point Unit 1 in New York, began operation in December 1969. The newest reactor, Unit 3 at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant in Georgia, began commercial operation on July 31, 2023.
World
There are about 440 commercial nuclear power reactors operable in about 30 countries. 10% of the world's energy comes from these 440 reactors. Nuclear accounts for 25% of clean energy and is the second-largest producer of clean energy. There are 64 nuclear plants under construction and 215 being shutdown
The US, China, and France produce the most nuclear energy
Types of Nuclear Reactors
Light Water Reactors (LWR):
LWRs take up 100% of all commercial nuclear reactors in the US. They are the most common kind of nuclear reactor, using fuel rods to create a fission reaction that heats up water into steam that powers blades that turn into electricity. They use water to cool the reactor core, either in once-through cycles from a nearby body of water or by cycling the same water through. Among LWRs, there are two types: PWRs and BWRs.
Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR)
PWRs make up 70% of nuclear reactors in the world. They are more common in the US and other militarily strong countries because of their translation and utility for naval use. The reactor core heats up water in a high-pressure environment which prevents it from boiling, this heated water is used to heat water in a lower-pressure environment which releases steam and powers the turbines.
Boiling Water Reactors (BWRs)
BWRs make up 15% of the global fleet. They tend to be larger and cost less to construct but are more expensive to maintain. They work by heating the reactor core, which directly boils water that is turned into steam and used to power turbines.
Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs)
PHWRs make up 11% of the global fleet and are most common in Canada. The design uses heavy water, a chemically different form of water, to cool and control the nuclear reactions. By using heavy water, it is possible to use naturally-occurring uranium as fuel, rather than the enriched fuel used in PWRs and BWRs.
Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
SMRs are not widely used, but they are being researched and experimented with. They use the same technology as normal nuclear reactors but are downsized to decrease construction time and cost. They can be made in factories to be shipped out, and they take up less land. SMRs are valuable in popularizing and providing widespread nuclear energy in an environment where it is difficult to get a full-sized nuclear plant up and running.
Pressurized Water Reactor
Pressurized Water Reactor
Boiling Water Reactor
Boiling Water Reactor
Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor
Pressurized Heavy Water Reactor
Future
The future of nuclear energy is uncertain. Its high cost and perceived danger makes it less appealing compared to cheaper and safer energy sources like solar and wind energy. Getting rid of the stigma and shifting public opinion on nuclear energy will be key to its widespread adoption in the future. Informing on the reality of Nuclear energy and dispelling misinformation will garner more support behind nuclear energy, forcing governments and the energy industry to take action. Nuclear energy is the future. It has the highest capacity factor and the most potential of any energy source. As our demand for energy increases with the advent of AI and we phase out our use of fossil fuels for electricity, we will not be able to sustainably support our growing energy demand with just renewable sources. Experimentation with SMRs may be the key to the adoption of widespread commercial nuclear power plants. Additionally, further research and developments in nuclear power may give way to us harnessing nuclear fusion reactions. Giving us the power of the sun directly, and also providing us with all the energy we could ever need.
Conclusion
In conclusion, nuclear power presents a complex landscape of benefits and concerns. Nuclear's unmatched potential to provide 100% clean energy makes it an undeniably valuable resource to reach net-zero carbon emissions. Additionally, the less divided bipartisan outlook on nuclear energy compared to other energy sources could mean that it will have the political backing it needs moving forward. However, concerns on its safety, its public perception, and cost limitations may be too great to overcome. Further research and development in the field of nuclear energy will be essential in developing reliable and powerful clean energy sources for our future.
Sources
https://youtu.be/Exr0L8P5COg?si=3DlKZwo_MCCFa57K
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/outline-history-of-nuclear-energy
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/outline-history-of-nuclear-energy
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/what-is-nuclear-energy-the-science-of-nuclear-power
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/nuclear-power-plants.php#:~:text=Nuclear%20power%20comes%20from%20nuclear,magnetic%20generators%20to%20produce%20electricity.
https://nuclear.duke-energy.com/2017/07/24/blog_post-20170724#:~:text=The%20majority%20use%20a%20once,the%20turbine%20back%20into%20water.
https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/advantages-and-challenges-nuclear-energy#:~:text=Nuclear%20energy%20protects%20air%20quality,medical%20field%20to%20space%20exploration.
https://www.nei.org/advantages/national-defense
https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/what-nuclear-energy-and-why-it-considered-clean-energy#:~:text=Is%20nuclear%20energy%20clean%3F,burning%20fossil%20fuels%20for%20energy.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2023/08/18/growing-share-of-americans-favor-more-nuclear-power/
https://earth.org/the-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-nuclear-energy/
https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/nuclear/us-nuclear-industry.php
https://world-nuclear.org/nuclear-essentials/are-there-different-types-of-reactor#:~:text=Pressurized%20water%20reactors%20(PWRs)%20make,generated%20to%20drive%20the%20turbine.
