Developing Nuclear Power as a Viable Alternative Energy



There are many scientists that see utilyzing the power of the atom in fission reactions as one of the most viable alternative energy resources available. An alternative energy source being anything, of course, that is not a fossil fuel.

Nuclear power plants can be an immense power source. They are very “clean-burning” and their efficiency is amazing. Nuclear power, evenually turned into electricity, is generated at 80% efficiency. This means that the energy produced by a fission reaction is almost equal to the energy put into creating the fission reactions in the first place. There is not much waste material created by nuclear fission but as with anything hu-beings build and operate there is some measure of waste.

And here is where the concerns and fears of environmentalists and the general populace are concentrated. Using nuclear power as an alternative energy source center doeds produce nuclear waste. Much of this is in the form of radioactive gases which must be contained.

These gases will continue to give off dangerous radiation for an extraordinarily long time - 10,000 years or more. It can never be released once contained and stored. However, the volume of this waste gas produced by nuclear power plants is tiny compared to how much NOx (nitrous oxide — that is,
alternative energy
Beaver Valley Nuclear Power Plant
and other air pollutants) generated by one day's worth of rush-hour traffic in the city of Los Angeles. While the radiation producing gases are certainly deadlier than Nitrous Oxide, the radioactive waste materials are by far the easier of the two to contain and store.

It can be argued that, in spite of the legitimate apprehensions of the environmentalists, nuclear power is, when all the factors are considered, an environmentally friendly alternative energy. The risk of the contained radiation leaking out is actually quite slim. With a relatively low volume of waste material produced by nuclear power plants long term storage and disposal solutions will be developed as technology advances.

Splitting the atom (nuclear fission) releases energy in the forms of both heat and light. Atomic power plants control the fission reactions so that a steady, controllable energy release is maintained. This type of nuclear procedure is not like what happens in the devastating explosions that one witnesses with atomic and hydrogen bombs. There is no chance of a nuclear power plant exploding like a nuclear bomb. The very specialized conditions that cause Plutonium to explode as an atomic blast, simply don't exist inside a nuclear power plant.

The risk of a “meltdown” (a nuclear reaction getting out of control) exists, but it is very low. The 1979 partial meltdown at a nuclear reactor in Harrisburg, Pennsylvalnia is well known, but there was little danger to the public from this incident. The most major nuclear power plant disaster occured at Chernobyl in 1986. This was not a meltdown accident, but one caused by an explosion and resultant fire. It released radiation over much of Europe. Thirty-one people died in the immediate aftermath of the explosion. Hundreds of thousands of Russians were moved from the area and a similar number are belived to have suffered from the effects of radiation exposure. The immediate area around Chernobyl is still quarantined.

Still if one looks at a list of Major Nuclear Power Plant Accidents, the number of incidents have been very few. And when one takes into acount that there are over 430 nuclear reactors in 33 nations, and that nuclear reactors have been in use since the early 1950s, these are rare occurrences. Moist oif these events have the fault of outdated materials And some human error. How do these events compare to the many refinery fires and oil spills that have happened over the last 60 years? Remarkably well...

Still, if nuclear energy is to become a more widely accepted form of alternative energy, the most up-to-date technology followed by the most vigerous upkeep of the plants is the key its future. Currently, six states in America generate more than half of all their electrical energy needs through nuclear power. New nuclear power plants are being built around the world. And yet the Internet and mainstream media are not filled with tragic horror stories of the power plants constantly having problems...

About the Author

Scott Harker is the publisher of several websites including: Sherlock Holmes Pastiches, On The Hook | Fishing Guide, Great Food | Great Recipes, Dieting Help | Move More - Eat Less, To The Stars | Astronomy, and Drive The Future | Hybrid Cars.


Ready to Harvest The Sun? Alternative Energy Resources!




Tankless Water Heaters by Low Energy Systems
Tankless Water Heaters by Low Energy Systems




AddThis Social Bookmark Button

Menu


My Articles


  • Hybrid Solar Lighting
  • Jobs In Alternative Energy Fields
  • Consultants On Alternative Energy
  • Making Biodiesel
  • Alternative Energy From The Ocean
  • CSP - Concentrating Solar Power
  • University Research Into Alternative Energy
  • Some Suppliers Of Alternative Energy
  • Investment Into Alternative Energy Research And Development
  • Alternative Energy For The Home
  • How To Seek Grants For Alternative Energy R & D
  • An Alternative Energy Education Method
  • Alternative Energy In Ireland
  • All about Tidal Power - Harnessing The Moon
  • Tankless Water Heater - Never Run Out of Hot Water
  • Alternative Energy Resources - Start Using Alternative Energy Today
  • Renewable Fuels For Alternative Energy
  • Investing In Alternative Energy Stocks
  • Investments In Alternative Energy
  • Government Grants For Alternative Energy
  • Recycling Cell Phones - Used Cell Phone/PDA Recycling
  • Solar Energy Collecting As An Alternative Energy Source
  • Resources For Alternative Energy
  • An Energy Alternative: Free Energy
  • Pursuing Alternative Forms Of Energy
  • Biofuels As Alternative Sources Of Energy
  • The Ways That The Military Is Using Alternative Energy
  • Developing Nuclear Power As Alternative Energy
  • What Is Alternative Energy
  • Wind Power As A Viable Solution To Meeting Alternative Energy Needs
  • Geothermal Power As Alternative Energy
  • Alternative Energy Development in Japan


  • My Articles


    Pursuing Alternative Forms Of Energy Record high prices at American gas pumps and continued..


    University Research Into Alternative Energy Decades of tree and biomass research jointly conducted by Florida Statue..


    What Is Alternative Energy There is a lot of energy that we can harness if we only..


    Related Videos:

    Related News:

     
    Suspected N.J. al-Qaeda terrorist Sharif Mobley worked at nuclear power plants - newjerseynewsroom.com

        

    New York Daily News

    Suspected N.J. al-Qaeda terrorist Sharif Mobley worked at nuclear power plants
    newjerseynewsroom.com
    Mobley once worked at Hope Creek and Salem nuclear power stations as well as another. Officials at the plants he worked for said Mobley was supervised and ...
    Alleged Al-Qaeda man worked at US nuclear power plantAFP
    Report: Yemen terror suspect had worked for US nuclear power plantsArab News
    NJ's al-Qaida TerroristNJ TODAY
    Examiner.com -NBC Philadelphia -New York Daily News
    all 1,648 news articles »



    Israel Intends to Build Civilian Nuclear Plants - New York Times

        

    New York Times

    Israel Intends to Build Civilian Nuclear Plants
    New York Times
    Jordan, like Egypt, has been talking about building a civilian nuclear power plant for some time. Iran, already subject to sanctions by the United Nations ...
    Israel, Syria pursue nuclear-powered MideastThe Associated Press
    Israel, Syria eye nuclear power plantsAFP
    Israel 'to unveil plans to build nuclear power plant'BBC News
    Energy Collective (blog) -Aljazeera.net -World Jewish Congress
    all 812 news articles »



    Competition Begins For Designing a New Generation of Nuclear Power Plants - Technorati (blog)

        

    Technorati (blog)

    Competition Begins For Designing a New Generation of Nuclear Power Plants
    Technorati (blog)
    World Nuclear News dated March 9, 2010 reported that two groups of technologies, each headed by General Atomics and Westinghouse, have been asked to ...
    Nuclear power plant design companies earn DOE grantsPower-Gen Worldwide
    EB to have a hand in development of future US nuclear power plantsTheDay.com
    Electric Boat Tapped For Design Of New Generation Of Nuclear PlantsHartford Courant

    all 10 news articles »



    Stand on nuke energy, power crisis - Inquirer.net

        

    Kansas.com (blog)

    Stand on nuke energy, power crisis
    Inquirer.net
    Are you in favor of nuclear power to address the power shortage? If you're in favor, would you revive the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant? ...
    China likely to approve more nuclear power plantsSteelGuru
    Lawmakers Urged Not To Dump Ban On New Nuclear Power PlantsSheboygan News (blog)
    Nuclear power; trying alleged terrorists in US criminal courts; the political ...Los Angeles Times
    Biofuels Watch -Soft Sailor (blog) -SouthCoastToday.com
    all 47 news articles »