Nuclear Power

vs
Fossil Fuels
 ENERGY
• Energy is essential to supporting human life on planet earth.
• Human beings have populated the entire planet and rely on the burning
of coal to perform daily activities such as turning on lights, heating
showers, and using a simple microwave.
• Our heavy reliance on energy has put our planet at risk due to high
emissions of carbon dioxide that are released through the burning of
fossil fuels.
• As humans have become more aware of the consequences of burning
fossil fuels for energy, there has been a push for a more sustainable
energy source.
• Nuclear energy seems to be the answer. But is using nuclear energy for
electricity really more sustainable than burning fossil fuels? Are carbon
dioxide emissions worse than nuclear waste?
• After doing additional researches for this speech, I want to encourage
you to use nuclear energy as our energy sources.
 Nuclear Energy
• Nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus (core) of an atom.
• Atoms are tiny particles that make up every object in the universe.
• There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together.
• Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity.
• But first the energy must be released. It can be released from atoms in
two ways : nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.
• In nuclear fusion, energy is released when atoms are combined or
fused together to form a larger atom. This is how the sun produces
energy.
• In nuclear fission, atoms are split apart to form smaller atoms,
releasing energy. Nuclear power plants use nuclear fission to produce
electricity.
Nuclear Power As a Safe Energy

• After 14,000 reactor-years of operation, over a

50-year history, three significant accidents have
occurred: Three Mile Island (1979), Chernobyl
(1986), and Fukushima(2011).
• The nuclear plant design has evolved throughout the years.

1. After the Three Mile Island accident occurred, significant testing

followed to strengthen design against future melt-downs and potential
radiation release.
2. Chernobyl made clear the need for a containment as the few remaining
plants were upgraded or shut down and more modifications to older
plants ensued.
3. Automation became an important upgrade for older plants, since
operator error was a leading cause in the Chernobyl accident.
4. New training and automation are now part of the licensing of new
reactors and upgrades to older ones.
5. The recent Fukushima accident caused the nuclear industry to re-
evaluate their safety standards, the results add another round of
progressive upgrading.
• Energy produced by coal,
petroleum, natural gas and
hydropower has caused
more deaths per unit of
energy generated due to
air pollution and energy
accidents.
• This is found when
comparing the immediate
deaths from other energy
sources to both the
immediate nuclear related
deaths from accidents.
Nuclear energy is more efficient
than burning fossil fuels
• As the amount of energy released from uranium per gram is much
more than that of fuels such as oil or coal.
• Approximately 8,000 times more efficient in fact. Despite there
being far less uranium reserves in the world compared to fossil fuel
reserves, the potential amount of energy generated is still greater
and there are no greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere.

(Energy Services Group International)

• An average capacity factor of 91 percent beats other energy forms
by a substantial margin.
• Natural gas produces an average of 50 percent while coal produces
energy at almost 59 percent.
• Wind power operates with a low 32 percent efficiency. Nuclear
power offers a number of benefits to users, but first and foremost is
that high efficiency.
 CONCLUSION

• The three major reactor accidents have shown the industry that even
among the worst accidents, few and far between, there is little loss of
life, as compared to other fuels.
• In addition, nuclear power producers are constantly assessing safety
upgrades, in an effort to protect the public from any pollution or harm.
• We are living in a energy-demanding world which will continue to
increase its need. The proposed shift to electric cars is just one
example.
• Nothing is risk-free, but risk can be minimized through constant review,
upgrade and new designs. Nuclear generated power meets all these
criteria, and more.