Renewable or Nuclear Power – The Debate Goes on!

Nuclear power is responsible for only 10% of the world’s energy production in lieu of the ill effects of the Fukushima disaster. The number of nuclear reactors has come down from 429 in 2010 to 412 at the end of last year but energy generation increased from 365 GW in 2010 to 367 GW in 2020.

However, the current energy crisis situation has led countries to think about adopting nuclear power. Moreso ever, as winter is fast approaching. According to a recent report by IAEA, nuclear electrical generating capacity is estimated to double by 2050 given the latest developments. It is expected that nuclear power generation will now become more efficient with technological advancements. For instance, there is a focus on small modular reactors as against the conventional larger and robust structures. These are designed to be built in factory assembly lines and then transported to power plants. Their capacity is 300 MW as opposed to 1,000 MW produced by traditional reactors. France, Britain, and the U.S. are adopting this technology. There is a strong focus on developing fourth-generation reactors that would significantly reduce nuclear waste.

Though countries are still debating, most agree that they have no other option but to power idle nuclear capacities before it is too late. Japan, which suffered the most has come out in the open to start its nuclear power plants. The country will revive as well as build new plants. Nuclear power is currently used in 32 countries. Germany is still weighing on the situation and believes using nuclear power is not a solution to the current energy crisis. Earlier, Germany decided to completely stop nuclear power usage by 2022 following the Fukushima disaster. Belgium and Switzerland had also followed suit.

China is thinking of going ahead with nuclear power to support its energy infrastructure. The Czech Republic, India, and Poland are also positive about using atomic power. The Indian government is ready to increase its nuclear power generation capacity by three times over the next decade to address its growing energy needs. India’s NTPC has already announced its plans to foray into nuclear energy. India currently has seven nuclear power plants, which produce ~6.78 GW of atomic energy. While the U.S., Britain, France, and the Netherlands are nuclear power proponents, New Zealand is opposing using atomic power in its energy mix.

Also, read Nuclear Energy in India faces external obstacles from old adversaries China and Pakistan

Nuclear is given a preference now as it offers an alternative to coal and does not directly emit carbon dioxide. Thus, it is being touted as one of the best options to avoid climate change. However, besides safety concerns, high costs of construction and strict compliance with safety measures are other impediments to nuclear power development. Safety costs alone have added to one-third of total costs over the last decade.