Is it possible to produce Electricity from Nuclear Energy? What's stopping us from doing so and is it costly?

Answer 1

We have been producing electricity using the nuclear fission process for about 50 years. There are over 100 nuclear reactors in the US making power and hundreds more all over the world.

Nuclear plants are initially expensive to build but once completed, the cost of fuel is much lower than fossil fuels.

Answer 2

Of course it's possible; it's done all the time. There are currently about 425 nuclear power plants world wide producing about 300 GW of power.

What is stopping us from expanding this capacity is mostly fear. Nuclear power plants DO have four main concerns to be addressed: Safety, Waste Fuel Disposal, Environmental Impact, and Security

Safety:

The technology is relatively safe BUT the consequences of accidents are vast. If a fossil fuel plant has a complete failure of safety systems, the worst case scenario is a local fire that might release toxic fumes that affect an area of a few square miles. If a nuclear plant has a complete failure of safety systems, the worst case scenario is a release of a radioactive cloud of water vapor that can affect HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of square miles. (Look up Chernobyl for an example.) It should be noted, however, that US plants are built using a technology that is inherently much safer than the Chernobyl plant. The worst accident that ever occured in the US (the Three Mile Island disaster) resulted in no deaths or injuries to plant workers or the surrounding population.

Waste Fuel Disposal:

Disposal of waste fuel rods is a significant problem for the nuclear power industry. After they are used (a typical fuel rod in a nuclear power plant will last 10 - 20 years), the fuel rods are still highly radioactive, producing neutron and gamma ray radiation that is highly dangerous (i.e. lethal) to humans and animals. To eliminate the threat, the fuel rods should be stored in concrete bunkers deep underground. They will remain dangerous for HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF YEARS. No location has yet approved the siting of a waste fuel repository. This is a problem the US has STILL not solved even after considering the problem for 30 years or more.

Environmental Impact

Lesser known among the ills of nuclear power is the environmental impact of the plants. Although the plant create energy with no pollution, they DO generate a great deal of waste heat. Nuclear power plants are almost universally sited on river banks so that the river water can be circulated through the plant for cooling. The heated water is then released back to the river, causing the overall temperature of the river water to rise in the neighborhood of the plant. This has many environmental effects including reducing the fish population (fresh water fish generally prefer a specific water temperature and are not adaptable to higher temperatures), and an increased algae content (algae LOVE warm water).

Security

Let us not forget in today's political atmosphere that nuclear power plants make very tempting targets for terrorists. If a terrorist can destroy the containment vessel of the power plant, this could result in the release of radioactive steam that would have the same effect as the Chernobyl meltdown.

With all that said, I DO believe that the world needs to re-examine the nuclear power question. With the dwindling supplies of fossil fuel, nuclear fission plants will be the natural bridge technology until nuclear fusion is a viable technology (probably 50 to 100 years from now).

Answer 3

Yes, there are two ways of harnessing energy from atoms : fission and fusion of atoms. IT is costly for setting up and also the fuel is costly too. The harmful radiations arising from a reactor would also have to be taken care of. So its not used as much thermal power plants.

Answer 4

Yes we can. But it is very costly. But Washington just passed a bill to help those com. The thing is it is costly but it is also very ozone friendly.I hope we get better with it in the future.

Answer 5

Yes, there are already several reactors around the world that are used to produce power and environmental groups and local laws prevent the construction of new plants.

Answer 6

france , and japan use 40/50 of electricity generated from nuclear plants. Nuclear plants require high technological skills and in depth scietific knowledge


Monkeys can not handle and should not handle sharp razors

Answer 7

It is costly and hazardous.
We go for it only after exhausting other possibilities.

Answer 8

It is a clean an renewable source. The fossle fuel companies are blocking anything that will reduce pollution and paying our Politicians off.

Answer 9

You have never heard of a nuclear power plant? We are using that technology.

Answer 10

It is done in many parts of the US. It is not that costly but it is dangerous.