Paper on Nuclear Power Industry and Nuclear Waste Disposal

Environmental Science Essay: How Will Nuclear Fuel Supplies, the Cost of Decommissioning Facilities, and Storage and Ultimate Disposal of Nuclear Wastes Influence the Nuclear Power Industry?

Nuclear power industry has been developed during the last 50 years. Nowadays nuclear power has reached a certain technological maturity in many developed countries. The main criteria for power plants are to be a reliable, environmentally acceptable and safe source of electrical energy. One of the most important tasks of any power plant is to develop energy services that minimize health and environmental impacts and at the same time best support development and improve the quality of life.

Over the past decades the nuclear power industry was considered to be the energy of the future. Today it is being questioned in many nations. The most actual issues discussed by leaders of developed countries are safety of operations, non-proliferation, impact on public acceptance of nuclear power, waste disposal, using of advanced energy technologies to solve the problem of greenhouse effect, and many other issues.

World’s primary fuel now is electricity produced by burning fossil fuels, from hydro and other renewables, and all the rest from nuclear. World resources of uranium are widespread and can provide a sufficient nuclear fuel supply in the short and medium terms even with conventional thermal reactors, operating primarily on once-through cycles with disposal of spent fuel. Nuclear power industry plays a vital role in the electricity supply systems and economies of many countries which state a desire to maintain nuclear as an energy choice for the future.

Opponents of nuclear power state that nuclear waste poses an unsolvable problem whose consequences will be borne by future generations. We consider that the proper management of radioactive waste must be based on the principle of protecting human health and environment. However, we must recognize that the problem of the ultimate disposal of radioactive waste is still open, although some countries are close to its technical solution.

The small quantity of nuclear wastes is technically and economically helpful. The costs of radioactive wastes handling are very high. In the USA costs of low level waste disposal have increased dramatically. The expenditures of decommissioning a retired nuclear power plant vary enormously depending on the level of the residual radioactivity and the public’s perception of safety and health effects of such a form of waste.

Technological progress in nuclear power industry must emphasize safety obtained cost effectively and nuclear waste disposal must be pursued vigorously as the top priority concern. Highly radioactive wastes are to be handled with great care and are to be given safe storage. The proper storage and disposal of nuclear waste require necessary technologies: spent nuclear fuel must be stored in shielded basins of water, or in dry storage vaults or containers until its radioactivity decreases naturally to safe levels. Nowadays waste is mostly stored in temporary storage places, requiring constant maintenance. At the same time suitable permanent disposal methods are discussed. Modern nuclear industry produces low-level radioactive waste in the form of contaminated items like clothing, hand tools, water purifier resins, and upon decomissioning the materials of which the reactor itself is built. Decommissioning expenditures usually include the following components: labor, energy and the transportation and disposal of waste materials which must not affect public health and safety or the environment.

Thus, we can conclude that to meet its constantly increasing energy needs, the world must use not only all available energy sources but also advanced energy methods and technologies. The problem of global warming is the most decisive force influencing the future development of nuclear power. We believe that nuclear power issues are closely connected with politics. Key issues to nuclear power’s future are non-proliferation, safety and environmental impacts.

Today we can notice the public disaffection with nuclear energy due to its association with nuclear weapons and the fear of catastrophes. However, there is a significant achievement of the US nuclear power industry over the last twenty years increasing its operating efficiency with improved maintenance.

Bibliography:

• B. Eliasson: “The Road to Renewables Energy Technologies for the Post-Kyoto World,” WEC Journal, July 1998, pp. 38-42
• J. Ausubel: “Can Technology Spare the Earth,” American Scientist no 84 March-April 1996, pp. 166-178