In recent years, energy shortage has dramatically

becoming a serious issue, and for a number of

advantages, some countries regard nuclear power as
efficient energy used in production. Research by
Lake, Bennett and Kotek (2009, January 26) states
that 16 percent of the worlds electricity is produced
by 438 nuclear power stations, and about 20 percent
of the American electricity is supplied by 103 nuclear
power plants in United States. The nuclear power in
this essay can be defined as a method of producing
energy by splitting apart the nuclei of atoms . This
essay will argue that nuclear power is a suitable
source for energy generation by focusing on firstly
low operating costs, then environmental benefit and
finally economic growth.
Firstly, energy can be generated by using nuclear
power because of low operating costs. According to
Alexander (2010), countries are following a trend of
turning to nuclear power. 80 percent of France
e n e r g y g e n e r a t i o n i s n u c l e a r . Italy, Britain, Finland, Eastern
Europe entire are exploring new reactors. Russia, India, China, and
Japan are also on their way of exploration. The United Arab
Emirates is purchasing reactors from South Korea. These countries
need large amounts of cheap electricity to create employment for
exploding population, and it can be achieved by using nuclear
power. Although the expenditure is considerably high to build
nuclear power plants especially when gas supply infrastructures are
already constructed, nuclear power still has advantages in cost
because coal needs to be transported over long distances (Sims,
Rogner and Gregory,2003). Moreover, the National Academy of
Science (as cited in Alexander,2010) states that not only the cost of
nuclear power is equal or lower than other forms of power such as
gas and wind, but also it lasts about 2 times longer than others.
Hence, it is advantageous that energy generated by nuclear power
is suitable because it has low operating costs and high price ratio.
Secondly, using nuclear power for energy generation is beneficial
for the environment. According to Parliament of Australia (2010),
nuclear power is an environmental friendly source which can
decrease the emission of greenhouse gas, and the decrease is
highly efficient because nuclear powers gas emission is ten times
lower than fossil fuels. Consequently, countries can deal with
greenhouse effect by replacing traditional power with nuclear
power. For example, Dr Switkowski (as cited in Parliament of
Australia,2010) reports that Australian greenhouse gas emission
can be reduced by the investment of nuclear plants, and in 2050, 8
to 17 percent of national emission reduction is attainable.
Furthermore, nuclear power reduces Brazils greenhouse gas level
and eases climate change effect, which ranges from 10 g to 50 g of
CO2/kWh. This is equal to wind power emissions but is lower than
fossil fuels emissions (Santos, Rosa, Arouca and Ribeiro, 2013).
Moreover, Osborne (as cited in PR Newswire,1999) indicates that
the carbon dioxide discharge of about 2 million vehicles can be
avoided if produces 750 megawatts of nuclear power generation.
This is also supported by Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development (2015). An annual decrease of carbon dioxide
emissions of about 1.3 to 2.6 gigatonnes will be contributed by
nuclear energy if it substitutes either gas or coal-fired generation.
Besides, over 60 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide has been avoided

because of nuclear power since 1980. In addition, the high-level

radioactive waste produced by nuclear power stations is
considered to be pollution to the environment by the majority.
However, Sims, Rogner and Gregory (2003) note that this problem
has been deeply researched and one possible solution is investing
a new designed reactor which can use the waste as fuel. Developed
reactors that can lower costs and improve safety have been
invented by the South African utility ESKOM. As a consequence, it
can be said that nuclear power is a suitable source for energy
generation because it offers environment benefits.
Lastly, nuclear energy is advantageous for economic growth.
Santos, Rosa, Arouca and Ribeiro point out that Brazil plans to
expand its electricity grid capacity, but hydroelectric power plants
cannot support the huge expansion. As a result, government of
Brazil has determined that use nuclear power to expand the
electricity grid capacity to 8000MW by 2030. Therefore, Brazils
economic has indirectly increased by nuclear energy because
electricity plays an important role in promoting economic growth.
Nuclear power directly pushes economic growth as well. According
to Proglio (as cited in World Nuclear News ,2015), nuclear power
industry has created 250000 employments for France. Knoche (as
cited in World Nuclear News ,2015) also indicates that there are
not only 900 employments supplied by EDF and Areva's project in
the UK, whose main work is building a nuclear power plant named
Hinkley Point C, but will need 25000 employees working during the
construction. What is more, due to the reduction of carbon dioxide
emissions during the nuclear energy generation process, a
considerable quantity of money which is used to deal with carbon
dioxide emissions can be saved. Sims, Rogner and Gregory (2003)
show that carbon dioxide capture in power station costs about 30
to 50 dollars per ton, and the transport fee is approximately 1 to 3
dollars per 100 kilometers, finally storing the carbon dioxide
underground costs averagely 1 to 2 dollars per ton. These are
redundant expenditures and it can be avoided by applying nuclear
power. Government funds also do not need to be spent in
managing excessive carbon dioxide and can be used to increase
government spending, which promotes economic growth.
Therefore, it could be concluded that economic growth is achieved
by applying nuclear power as a source for energy generation
because it accelerates development of countries, creates
employment and reduces unnecessary expenses.
In conclusion, this essay has argued that energy generated by
nuclear power has low costs and it is extremely efficient. Moreover,
while using nuclear power as a source to produce energy, carbon
dioxide emissions can be reduced which is beneficial to the
environment. Lastly, nuclear power pushes economic growth
directly and indirectly. Hence, it can be strongly argued that
nuclear power is a suitable source for energy generation.
Reference List
Alexander, L. (2010, July 19). Nuclear power is cheap and reliable.
The
United
States
News.
Retrieved
from
http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2010/07/19/lamaralexander-nuclear-energy-is-cheap-and-reliable
Lake, J.A., Bennett, R.G., & Kotek, J.F. (2009, January 26). Next
Generation Nuclear Power. Scientific American. Retrieved from
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/next-generation-

nuclear/
Nuclear power has many benefits, Osborne tells WANO conference.
(1999,
Sep,
21).PR
Newswire.
Retrieved
from
http://search.proquest.com.wwwproxy0.library.unsw.edu.au/docvi
ew/447941832?accountid=12763&rfr_id=info%3Axri%2Fsid
%3Aprimo
Nuclears unique role in socio-economic development. (2015,
June, 02). World Nuclear News. Retrieved form http://www.worldnuclear-news.org/NP-Nuclears-unique-role-in-socio-economicdevelopment-02061501.html
OECD Nuclear Energy agency and international Energy agency.
(2015). Nuclear energy technology development: Actions and
milestones.
Retrieved
from
http://www.oecdnea.org/ndd/pubs/2015/7527-techroadmap-2015.pdf
Parliament of Australia (2010). Nuclear. Retrieved from
http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departm
ents/Parliamentary_Library/Browse_by_topic/ClimateChangeold/re
sponses/mitigation/emissions/nuclear
Santos, R. L. P. D., Rosa, L. P., Arouca, M. C., & Ribeiro, A. E. D.
(2013). The importance of nuclear energy for the
expansion of Brazils electricity grid. Journal of Energy
Policy,
60,
284-289.
Doi:
10.1016/j.enpol.2013.05.020
Sims, R. E. H., Rogner, H. H., & Gregory K. (2003). Carbon emission
and mitigation cost comparisons between fossil fuels, nuclear and
renewable energy resources for electricity generation. Journal of
Energy Policy, 31(13), 1315-1326. doi: 10.1016/S03014215(02)00192-1
Attached Resources
Alexander, L. (2010)
Now the rest of the world is returning to nuclear energy. France is
80 percent nuclear and has the lowest per capita carbon emissions,
and among the cheapest electricity costs, in Western Europe. Italy,
Britain, Finland, and Eastern Europe all are exploring new reactors.
Russia, India, China, and Japan are moving ahead. South Korea is
selling reactors to the United Arab Emirates. These countries realize
that exploding populations demand large amounts of cheap,
reliable electricity to help create jobs and lift people out of poverty.
And nuclear power provides just that. The National Academy of
Sciences in a 2009 report said that the cost of nuclear power is
equal to or lower than natural gas, wind, solar, or coal with carbon
capture. Reactors can operate for 80 years, while wind and solar
last about 25 years. And nuclear reactors operate 90 percent of the
time, while wind and solar are only available about a third of the
time.
Lake, J.A., Bennett, R.G., & Kotek, J.F. (2009)
Reading List
Source
Today 438 nuclear power plants generate about 16 percent of the
worlds electricity. In the U.S., 103 nuclear power plants provide

about 20 percent of the countrys electrical production.

Parliament of Australia (2010)
Reading List Source
Nuclear power is a low-emission technology. Life cycle greenhouse
gas emissions from nuclear power are more than ten times lower
than emissions from fossil fuels and are similar to emissions from
many renewables. Indeed, in 2006 the federal government
commissioned Dr Ziggy Switkowski to lead a taskforce to prepare a
study into the future feasibility of nuclear power generation in
Australia. The report of the taskforce concluded, among other
things, that the 'challenge to contain and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions would be considerably eased by investment in nuclear
plants' and that the 'greenhouse gas emission reductions from
nuclear power could reach 8 to 17 per cent of national emissions in
2050.
PR Newswire (1999)
UNSW Library Source
Nuclear power has major environmental benefits, Osborne said.
"Each 750 megawatts of nuclear generation avoids the equivalent
of the carbon dioxide emissions of about 2 million cars on an
annual basis," Osborne said. OPG has 9,000 megawatts of nuclear
generation in service.
Santos, R. L. P. D., Rosa, L. P., Arouca, M. C., & Ribeiro, A. E.
D. (2013)
UNSW Library Source
The country's electricity mix consists primarily of renewable sources
of energy and this configuration will be maintained throughout the
21st century. However, grid expansion can no longer benefit from
hydroelectric power plants with large reservoirs leading to a greater
participation of thermal power plants. Among the thermal sources
available in the country, nuclear power has important comparative
advantages. Recognizing these benefits, the Brazilian government
has established that expanding electricity grid capacity will amount
to up to 8000 MW through nuclear energy by 2030.
As for environmental sustainability, the use of nuclear energy
significantly reduces Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions at both the
local and global level, which mitigates the effects of climate change.
Nuclear power plants reactors do not emit GHG during operation of
reactors.
From an environmental point of view, the benefits of increasing the
use of nuclear technology to mitigate global warming and maintain
a cleaner energy mix are widely recognized in Brazil. Considering
the entire life cycle of the nuclear process, GHG emissions range
from 10 g to 50 g of CO2/kWh, practically the same as that of the
wind power energy chain and much lower than the emissions of
fossil fuel energy chains.
Sims, R. E. H., Rogner, H. H., & Gregory K. (2003) UNSW Library
Source
Technological approaches for safe and long-term disposal of highlevel radioactive waste have been extensively studied, one possible
solution involving deep geological repositories. In the longer run,
fundamentally new reactor configurations may need to be
developed based on innovative designs that integrate inherent
operating safety features and waste disposal using previously
generated radioactive waste as fuel. By way of transmutation, this
would also convert nuclear waste or plutonium to less hazardous

and short-lived isotopic substances. Major nuclear reactor vendors

have now developed modified reactors that offer both improved
safety and lower costs. One of the innovative designs is the pebble
bed modular reactor (PBMR) developed by the South African utility
ESKOM.
Carbon dioxide capture and compression imposes a penalty on the
thermal efficiency of a power generation plant estimated to be 8
13%. The cost of CO2 capture in power stations is estimated to be
approximately $3050 per ton of emissions ($110180 per ton),
being equivalent to an increase of about 50% in the cost of
electricity. The cost of CO2 transport depends greatly on the
transport distance and the capacity of the pipeline but is
approximately $13 per ton per 100 kilometers. The cost of
underground storage, excluding compression and transport, would
be approximately $12 per ton stored.
New nuclear power plants at $1700$3100/kWe cannot compete
against natural gas CCGT technology at current and expected gas
prices where gas supply infrastructures are already in place (OECD,
1998). However, new nuclear power at generating costs between
3.9 and 8.0 c/kWh can be competitive with coal and natural gas
where coal has to be transported over long distances or natural gas
pipelines and infrastructures are not in place. Safe waste disposal
for approximately 1 million years is claimed to be technically
feasible and to add only 0.02 c/kWh to generating costs.
Proliferation is primarily a political issue, but can also be addressed
by technology.
The
Organization
for
Economic
Co-operation
and
Development (2015)
Reading
List Source
Nuclear energy currently contributes to a reduction
of carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector of
about 1.3 to 2.6 gigatonnes (Gt) of carbon dioxide
every year, assuming it replaces either gas or coalfired generation. It is estimated that since 1980 the
release of over 60 Gt carbon dioxide has been
avoided thanks to nuclear power.
World Nuclear News (2015)
Henri Proglio, the former head of EDF, and Philippe Knoche, CEO of
Areva, illustrated the important role nuclear power has played in
the economic development of France. There are 250,000 jobs
directly linked to the nuclear industry in France, Proglio said, with
another 400,000 jobs in other industries that would not be as
competitive were it not for their use of cheap and reliable nuclear
power.

EDF and Areva's project in the UK, to build the Hinkley Point C
nuclear power plant in Somerset, will not only create 900 on-site
jobs over the 60-year life of the project, but will require 25,000
personnel from among supply chain companies during the

construction phase alone, Knoche said.