Nuclear Power: a Solution to Global Warming?

Global warming is basically a term that describes gradual increase in average

temperature of the Earth's atmosphere and is believed to have the potential of

permanently altering the Earth’s climate (Imaginova Corp, 2007). Some of the direct

observations of recent climatic change related to global warming includes rising of global

average sea levels and widespread melting of snow and ice (IPCC, 2007). Based on

scientific consensus, the increased volume of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the

Earth’s atmosphere is due to human activities such as burning of fossil fuels and

agriculture (Imaginova Corp, 2007). According to Intergovernmental Panel on Climate

Change (IPCC) these anthropogenic greenhouse gases, especially CO2 is believed to be

the primary sources of global warming that has occurred over the past 50 years since the

start of the industrial era (IPCC, 2007). With global warming occurring at this rate,

scientists from IPCC have predicted that by year 2100 average global temperatures could

face an increase between 1.4°C and 5.8°C (Imaginova Corp, 2007).

However, burning of fossil fuels is unavoidable because fossil fuels are the primary

source of electrical energy in the world today. According to Chugtai and Shannon (2008),

coal power plants account for about 52 percent of the world’s electricity demand as most

of our electricity is generated by coal power plants. Electric power is very important

because it affects the nation’s economy directly. United States for instance, between year

1973 and 1990, had electricity use growing by 58 percent following with a 50 percent

growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Hence, it is viable to conclude that in order to

meet the needs of the economy and the increasing population, reliable supplies of electric

power is needed (Lipper and Stone, 1998). As demand for electricity soars, the pollution

produced from fossil fuel-burning plants is heading towards dangerous levels and hence

the major drawbacks concerning the conventional power plants are the large amount of

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greenhouse gases that are emitted by the plant itself. Therefore, one of the most possible

solutions involving the mitigation of global warming is through nuclear power.

Nuclear power is suggested by many because it is a sustainable energy source that is

able to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (Newton, 2005). France for instance, is a

densely populated country that is known to have the cleanest air among all other

industrialized countries and cheapest electricity due to the fact that 80 percent of the

nation’s electric power is derived from nuclear power plants (Kroft, 2007). Apart from

that, nuclear power is also a more efficient energy source as compared to other

conventional power such as burning of coal. This is partly because energy wastage

produced by burning of coal is believed to exceed the amount of energy it generates

(Gabbard, 1993). Depletion of the fossil fuels are estimated to be 50 years away and

because of that, nuclear power is strained as large reserves of uranium are still present in

the Earth’s crust (Yangco, 1998). Consequently, nuclear power can be considered as an

alternative source of energy. Today, there are about 435 commercial nuclear power

reactors operating in 30 countries with a total of 370,000 MWe of total capacity and they

supply about 16 percent of the world’s electricity (World Nuclear Association, 2007).

Before we can fully assure whether or not nuclear power is a viable solution to global

warming, we must first examine the principle of how it works and the type of structure

and components it possesses. Basically, all the nuclear power reactors works in the same

way; that is by utilizing nuclear fission to produce electricity. Fission is a nuclear process

that involves the splitting of the nucleus of an atom into two smaller nuclei and an

addition of neutrons with the process. Apart from that, fission reaction is also a reaction

that have the capability of self-sustaining. This is because atom undergoing nuclear

fission produced neutrons and fissile isotopes that are capable of interacting with each

other cause more fission. Thus, the cycle repeats to give a reaction that is self-sustaining

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(Anderson et al., 1939). This process when done, releases a significant amount of energy

in the form of heat and radiation (Welch, 2008). According to Brain and Lamb (2008),

the energy, in the form of heat and radiation released by a single fission comes from the

fact that the fission products weigh less than the original atom. “This difference in weight

is directly converted to energy at a rate governed by the equation E = mc2” (Brain and

Lamb, 2008). In the core of the nuclear power reactor, the same principle applies with

induced fission. Induced fission differs from spontaneous fission as it only takes place

when a nucleus is bombarded with neutrons. This means that for induced fission, an

external output of energy is required. It is with this energy produced from the nuclear

chain reaction of the core of the nuclear power reactor that electricity is generated.

There are generally two types of nuclear reactors. One of it is known as the

Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) while the other is called Boiling Water Reactor

(BWR). PWR differs from BWR in that PWR separates the water in the reactor and the

water in the steam generator from mixing. The purpose of this is so that most of the

radioactivity stays within the reactor area. In contrast with PWR, BWR only has one

compartment whereby the water is directly boiled to be converted into steam (Welch,

2008). Though both the reactors have different structure, they are essentially the same in

terms of components. One of the components includes fuel. The fuel is a fissile material,

usually enriched uranium which is essential for nuclear fission. There are also metal

shells known as the fuel cladding in which the fuel pellets are contained. It is to protect

the fuel from corrosion and prevent fission products from escaping. Apart from that, there

is also a moderator which is made of light elements that serve the purpose of slowing the

fission neutrons and a coolant to transport the heat generated from the core to the steam

generator for driving the turbine. Control rods, another major components of the nuclear

reactor which is made of neutron absorbing material is use to control the reaction and

maintain it at a critical level. Finally, there is a pressure vessel to prevent radioactive

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material from escaping in case of excessive internal pressure (Welch, 2008). Hence from

the components of the nuclear reactor, it is clear that the chance of radioactive

contamination to be happened is minimal because many safety measures have been taken

into account.

Nuclear energy could contribute so much to the environment as it a clean source of

energy. Moreover, our energy consumption is increasing every year and nuclear power

proves to be an efficient energy source due to its high capacity. Although, they are critics

who believe that nuclear power could be a potentially dangerous energy source due to the

radioactive waste produced, it is an erroneous deem because under good management of

the radioactive waste, radioactive contamination can be avoided altogether. Thus, it can

be concluded that nuclear power is a viable solution to global warming since it possesses

little drawbacks and major benefits to the environment.

(1164 words)

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Welch, C 2008, Nuclear Power, viewed 4th October 2008,
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