Why isn't nuclear power widely used?

Question

State The Following :
1 : Answer
2 : Reason
3 : Any Other Relevant Information

Why isn't it used widely? It is more efficient than any other source of generating power.

Answer 1

At least in the US, it is because it is way to difficult to find places to build nuclear (or any other type besides hydroelectric maybe) power plants.

Say you want to build a plant, you can't find a place that will let you build it.

Say you own a home, and you consider your community to be nice, clean, and safe. People will fight to the ends of the earth to keep someone from building a power plant nearby that would potentially spoil (in their mind's at least) the surrounding area.

So that leaves power companies with the option of building plants in the middle of nowhere (even then it's very tough considering environmental activists). Then somebody is faced with the addition transmission costs to get the power from the plant in the middle of nowhere to the consumer's homes (the consumers, by the way, who are already screaming about the cost of electricity).

Answer 2

It is used widely in some countries. France, for example produces somewhere around 95% of its energy from nuclear power. The problem in the US is that after three mile island and then Chernobyl people got scared. Currently there are about 4 new nuclear plant construction projects being approved in the US and they are based largely on successful French designs.

Answer 3

1. because many people think that it is much more dangerous than it actually is. if there was a meltdown or an explosion, yes that would be a disaster and many would be killed, but the only major nuclear problem was in Chernobyl.

2. If we are totally 100% careful with the nuclear sources, which i think many of the people working at the power stations would be considering i doubt they would want to be blown up, there will be no problems in using nuclear power

Answer 4

1. a)Huge set-up costs, b)High level of expertise needed to run the plant,c) difficulty in disposing of waste

2. a)nuclear power stations,as you know are very complex, therefore need a lot of money to build them, the power plant also has to meet all the safety regulations. b)Workers need to be trained thoroughly in the operation of the plant, otherwise they won't know what to do in the event of a meltdown, meaning even more money has to be poured into the project.
c)some of the unstable elements of nuclear power generation have very long half-lives, therefore they need to be stored for a long time before they become safe and stable.

3)there are also many different types of reactors, each with varying levels of safety and set-up costs. Also, one of the fuel types can be enriched after use, to produce re-usable fuel and nuclear weapons (see plutonium enrichment) -a process that happens at Sellafield (formerly known as Windscale) in the UK.

Hope that helps

Answer 5

1.Because initial cost is high and it is hazardous too...
2.it emits harmful radiations... uranium which is prime source of nuclear power is rare on earth...
3.people working in nuclear power stations wear a radiation detecting badge which has to be verified once in a day and also lead wall used for ceasing the radiations must be about 2 metres...

Answer 6

1) nations like Iran/N. Korea would use it for EVIL.
2) Where do you put the "HOT" waste ?
3) Your going to ship "HOT" waste by truck, through a populated city or town ? Accident ? Disaster ?

Answer 7

because when it explode, it can blew up the entire continent...
what i mean is that it will only explode in a city but its chemical will spread throughout the entire continent

Answer 8

because it produces harmful stuff