Nuclear Power: Does It Have a Future?

Nuclear Power.  Those two words have a great deal of meaning.  Many people think of mental images involving Nuclear Armageddon, mutations, and a glowing neon green; an image that Homer Simpson would

Fig. 1:  Worldwide Nuclear Power

be proud of.  The other side of the coin thinks of efficiency, cleanliness, and base-load power for all.  These two competing camps have been at verbal war for nearly a half of a century now, and the ethical argument has become ingrained in the American society.  However, the debate is not limited to the North American continent.  The European powers remain divided on the issue, Asia is questioning its safety, and the Middle East is a hot bed due to proliferation concerns.   Let's break down the pros and cons of the two sides ideals.

Opponents of Nuclear Power:

Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl (1986), and Fukushima Daiichi (2011):  These are the nuclear proliferation incidents that opponents to Nuclear Power often bring attention.  These are not the only incidents in the history of nuclear power, but they are the most severe.
-Three Mile Island, the worst American Nuclear incident, also involved the supporting cooling systems.  The plant experienced a partial meltdown, yet there was very little radiation release, and no one has physically been affected.  More information is available through Nuclear Regulatory Commission - Three Mile Island.
-Chernobyl, the worst disaster of the three, was a full meltdown of the core, and incurred a massive amount of radiation release into the surround Ukrainian countryside.  According to World Nuclear Association - Chernobyl, it is directly tied to 31 deaths, and 134 cases of Acute radiation syndrome.  There was also an increase in birth defects and thyroid cancer in the region near the plant after the incident.  To say the least, it was an awful occurrence, and, also according to the World Nuclear Association, was blamed on faulty design and inadequately trained personnel.
-Fukushima Daiichi, which is right along the eastern coast of Japan, was hit by a 35 ft high tsunami, World Nuclear Association - Fukushima Daiichi.

Fig. 2.

knocking out the plant's supporting cooling systems.  After this, the plant had a partial meltdown, releasing radiation, before crews were able to bring everything under control.  No deaths were attributed to the actual nuclear disaster, but the chaos surrounding the event claimed a number of people.  More information is available at

While conflicts tend to deal with nuclear weapons versus peaceful nuclear power, certain factions may try to develop nuclear weapons programs disguised as nuclear power programs.  The need for regulation of these programs has caused many problems with two countries that share a large portion of the world's news feed:  Iran and North Korea.  This possibility of intentional proliferation is an issue.

Storage of spent nuclear waste is of major concern in American public policy.  Current remedies involve guarded storage lots, filled with capsules containing the still radioactive materials.  What are we do do with these.

Proponents of Nuclear Power:

The future of our world society is dependent upon power, and it must be generated from some source.  While nuclear power is not renewable, its efficiency far outpaces the current main forms of base-load power generating technology.  The term "base-load" power is important.  This is the reliable, off-peak capable power.  As nice as solar and wind are to have, they are no where near able to produce the power needed for our any country's baseload.

Fig. 3:  US Nuclear Industry
safety record. 

Past incidents, proliferation concerns, and storage issues may deter many from thinking that nuclear power is not an answer.  However, with only a handful of lessons learned the hard way, operation of nuclear power plants through out the world has been very successful.  According to the Nuclear Energy Institute, 2012 was the safest year on record.

Also new technologies that are on the horizon, or are even available right now, will solve these issues.  One particular new technology are Waste Annihilating Molten Salt Reactors (Yes, that is actually what they are called).  According to the American Soceity of Mechanical Engineers article Nuclear Waste to Energy, these reactors show the promise of meltdown proof, as they can be shutdown without an operator doing anything, and run at atmospheric pressures.  One of the main issues at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima Daiichi was the pressure the reactors operated at.  These reactors, and similar ones, solve this problem.  These particular reactors also do as their name says; they annihilate nuclear waste.  All those stockpiles that are currently being guarded with nuclear waste capsules just chilling (literately) now may lose their purpose, thus eliminating the possibility for that fuel to be used in wrongful ways.

With regulation, the nuclear power industry is able to produce relatively cheap, clean, and efficient power to supply base-load power.

Nuclear Power:  Does It Have a Future?                                        - YES

Fig. 4.

There are downsides to every source of energy.  Oil and coal tend to have dirty side effects.  Solar and wind rely on natural conditions.  Hydro power disrupts a river's ecosystem and nuclear has the possibility of a meltdown.  The only way to supply the base-load power required to supply energy in this growing world is to balance the use of these technologies through consideration of the circumstances.  The technology will improve, and especially in the case of nuclear, will lead to many other discoveries that effect different parts of life.  I feel the downsides, with continued research and development, will subside to benefits.  For example, the US Navy powers an entire fleet of submarines and aircraft carriers with nuclear power, and have had very few problems due to the oversight and control.  In the case of the Fukushima Daiichi disaster, we can see that elementary issues, such as plant campus design, can be changed to ensure the safety.  I would argue that it also shows how safe nuclear power is.  This power plant was hit with waves that, at their peak, measured 35 feet high.  Yet, the situation was brought under control.

Fig. 1: Reuters - Figure of the Day.
Fig. 2: Nuclear Philosophy - Drowning Fukushima.
Fig. 3: Nuclear Energy Institute - Nuclear Safety Record.
Fig. 4: Nuclear Power? Yes Please.