Have you heard of nuclear energy before? Do you know what it is and how we get it?
Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity and these are obtained from nuclear fission and nuclear decay to produce electricity.
Nuclear power has various advantages when it comes to producing energy, unlike other energy sources. You cannot create or destroy energy but you can convert it from one form to another.
Nuclear power has always been a subject of debate for decades because of safety reasons but it has also proven to be very useful for all kinds of everyday services.
When compared to other forms of energy nuclear power generates few greenhouse emissions meaning it causes less pollution to the environment.
This means that with this form of energy both the environment and the human populace are safe from dangerous gases (methane and carbon dioxide) that are usually emitted by other energy producing fuels like coal.
Harmful emitted gases often lead to chronic illnesses such as cancer and heart attacks. Nuclear, on the other hand, does not produce such gases, which means less concern about climate change and diseases. The raw materials used include uranium which can be found in many places around the world, including oceans. Other raw materials such as plutonium and thorium can be used.
Nuclear energy is very powerful and efficient compared to other forms of energy in the sense that, nuclear energy requires few raw materials which means that transporting them is easier.
The cost of uranium – the fuel for nuclear energy – is low, which allows nuclear power to produce very inexpensive electricity. Also, the moderately high expense of setting up nuclear power plants is offset by the low expense of running them for years and years on end.
Despite all the advantages of nuclear energy, its production only provides a third of the world’s electricity meaning that it is still relatively unpopular. As the world is advancing and facing a lot of power challenges nuclear energy should be considered as it can cover the gap left by other energy sources like solar, hydropower, and many more.
OIL
“Nearly all of our existing power sources are generators which use a heat cycle. This includes our coal, oil, and gas fired utilities, our automobiles, trucks, and trains, and even our nuclear fission utility power plants.” ~ Wilson Greatbatch
Text By Patuma Salimu