Year 10 One World Essay Physics Nuclear Energy:

The Potential of Nuclear Energy in Tackling Growing Energy Demand and Climate Change

As of 2010, the combustion of fossil fuels accounts for ~87% of global energy consumption1 (Chart
in Figure 1.) and ~80%2 of all GHG emission i.e. (~458633 0.8) 36690.4 Tg CO2e. The global demand
for energy is projected to increase by two-thirds from 2011 to 20354 (Graphed in Figure 2.); Global
temperature is estimated to rise by ~3 C if global carbon emission doubled; hence by 2035 assuming the
combustion of fossil fuels with retain the same share amongst all sources of energy in order to fulfill the
growing energy demand, the amount of carbonic gasses emitted from fossil fuel combustion will also
increase by ~66%, raising the worlds surface temperature by ~2-3C even when other factors (e.g. biomass
and methane emission) are neglected. 2-3C will tip us over the 2C critical climate threshold, which when
passed will cause catastrophic floods, destruction of natural habitats and ecosystems 5. One way to battle
climate change is to implement other sources of energy and decrease the share of fossil fuels combustion in
global energy production. The best source of energy is without doubt nuclear power, due to the lesser
damage it does to the environment compared to fossil-fuels-combusting plants.

In a concealed nuclear reactor, two nuclei undergo atomic fission to produce nuclear energy. In the
reactor, there are stable isotopes (commonly Uranium isotope 235 due to its large atomic mass) and neutrons.
Radiative capture occurs and stable isotopes absorb a neutron each. This disrupts the proton-neutron ratio
236
making isotopes unstable e.g. U. Atomic fission succeeds: fission products include one Barium-141 and
92
one Krypton-92 atom. These reactions emit gamma radiation equivalent to 200 Megaelectronvolts (MeV) as
236
thermal energy. 3 more neutrons from U are emitted to the surrounding in each reaction. These neutrons
92
235
then collide with three other U and initiates the same fission reaction for three more times, causing an
92
exponential chain reaction of energy release. The reaction can be summarized by the following equation:

1
"Global Energy Trends BP Statistical Review 2014." Energy Matters. N.p., 17 June 2014. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://euanmearns.com/global-energy-trends-bp-statistical-review-2014/>.
2
"CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 2015." CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion(2015): n. pag. Web. 17 Nov.
2016.
<https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/CO2EmissionsFromFuelCombustionHighlights
2015.pdf>.
3
EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-08/global-ghg-emissions_fig-1.csv>.
4
"World Energy Needs and Nuclear Power." World Energy Needs and Nuclear Power. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov.
2016. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/world-energy-needs-
and-nuclear-power.aspx>.
5
Scheller, Alissa, Hilary Fung/Huffington Post, and Brentin Mock. "2 Degrees Will Change the World | Mother
Jones." Mother Jones. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016. <http://m.motherjones.com/environment/2015/11/2-
degrees-will-change-world-paris-climate-change>.
 1 235 236 141 92 1
n+ U [ U] U + Kr + 3 n +
0 92 92 56 36 0

Energy transfer is as follows: Thermal energy from fission reactions then heats up running water in the
pressurized reactor, water pressure is controlled to prevent boiling at current stage; hot water flows through
U shaped tubes in the heat exchanger, heat is transferred from tubes that circulates water in and out of the
pressurized reactor, vaporing those in the heat exchanger into steam, which travels to the turbine station
striving a high-pressure turbine, then feeding two low-pressure turbine, ultimately powering the electricity
generator and transforms partially into electric energy6. (Visually represented in Figure 3.) This energy
production does not produce GHG, unlike the combustion of fossil fuels that produces CO2, hence would not
accelerate climate change.

This source of energy is also environmentally-favorable because nuclear wastes are much more
manageable, compared to wastes produced through fossil fuel combustion. Some argue that nuclear power
plants produce radioactive wastes and poses threat to social health. However, most neglect the fact that
radioactive wastes from power plants can be categorized into low-level, intermediate-level, and high-level
radioactive wastes (LLW, ILW, and HLW respectively). Out of 8000-10000 million tons of waste annually
produced globally, but 0.4 million tons are radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants7, while LLW shares
~94% of such wastes, ILW shares ~6%, and HLW sharing less than 0.1%8. LLW and ILW emits alpha and
beta radiation, meaning that all radiation from such wastes will be blocked by a sheet of aluminum at most,
due to the little penetration ability of these types of radiations, leaving but 400 tons of HWL that emits
gamma radiation and are actually potential damage to social health. On the other hand, fly ash produced
through combusting fossil fuels comprises of high concentrations of uranium and thorium9, both being
radioactive elements. Fly ash cannot be captured, unlike nuclear wastes, and therefore is further exposed to
the public and poses greater risks to general health, not to mention that the amount of actual damaging
nuclear wastes is actually minimal. Moreover, fly ash can spread across fields and soil, contaminating crops
with radioactivity, whereas LLW and ILW can be absolutely segregated from such sources of food, further
emphasizing fly ash spreads radioactivity more easily than nuclear wastes. As a result, fly ash radiation

6
"How Nuclear Reactors Work." - Nuclear Energy Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/How-Nuclear-Reactors-Work>.
7
"Press Kit: Radioactive Waste Management." Nuclear Energy Agency - Press Kit: Radioactive Waste
Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016. <https://www.oecd-nea.org/news/press-kits/radioactive-
waste.html>.
8
"Radioactive Waste Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association." Radioactive Waste
Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-waste-
management.aspx>.
9 "Radioactive Waste Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association." Radioactive Waste

Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-waste-
management.aspx>.
causes 18 millirems10 of radiation in the bones of nearby population each year; by contrast, nuclear waste
radioactivity only causes 3-6 millirems to individuals throughout same duration11, meaning fossil fuel
combustion and the fly ash combustion that it causes exposes greater radioactivity to the public is a greater
threat to general health, while implementing nuclear power and according, simple disposal measures will
prevent such public exposure of radioactivity.

However, this does not come at no risks. Fission reactions emits gamma radiation and not all thermal
energy will be transferred to the heat exchanger, therefore, a coolant must reduce temperature in the
pressurized reactor to prevent structural damage. The cooling system is stabilized by controlling the amount
of coolant, coolant pressure, and coolant flow rate. Although chances are low (only 1 in 20,000 chance per
reactor, per year of operation12) disruption to either aspect of stabilization results in a Nuclear meltdown.
Nuclear meltdowns have catastrophic consequences, the Fukushima Daiichi disaster that dates back to 11-
03-11 is a classic example: Economically, infrastructural damage caused by hydrogen explosions is
estimated to by ~250-500 billion USD13; environmentally, as 733,000 curies of radioactive cesium is
released into the surrounding soil and Pacific Ocean, radioactivity is detected in corps and animals within a
200-mile-radius of Fukushima14. Being said, nuclear power plants are also, by a very small chance, a
potential social hazard.

Implementing nuclear power to tackle growing energy demand is very effective in multiple ways:
first, as global population is being estimated to increase to ~9.7 billion and food demand to increase by 59%-
98% by 205015, we need agricultural land to fulfill this demand. Therefore, continuously building fossil fuel
power plants are unreasonable. However, a single nuclear reactive pellet sized approximately 1cm diameter
can generate energy equivalent to 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas, 1,780 pounds of coal or 149 gallons of

10 "Radioactive Waste Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association." Radioactive Waste
Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-waste-
management.aspx>.
11 "Radioactive Waste Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association." Radioactive Waste

Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-waste-
management.aspx>.
12
Leveque, Francois. "The Risk of a Major Nuclear Accident: Calculation and Perception of Probabilities." The
Risk of a Major Nuclear Accident: Calculation and Perception of Probabilities. HAL, 4 July 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2016.
<https://hal-mines-paristech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00795152/document>.
13
"About." Costs and Consequences of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster | PSR. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.psr.org/environment-and-health/environmental-health-policy-institute/responses/costs-and-
consequences-of-fukushima.html?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.hk%2F>.
14
"About." Costs and Consequences of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster | PSR. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.psr.org/environment-and-health/environmental-health-policy-institute/responses/costs-and-
consequences-of-fukushima.html?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.hk%2F>.
15
@harvardbiz. "Global Demand for Food Is Rising. Can We Meet It?" Harvard Business Review. N.p., 07 Apr.
2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016. <https://hbr.org/2016/04/global-demand-for-food-is-rising-can-we-meet-it>.
oil16. Nuclear power plants are reasonable to fulfill growing energy demand; Second, as aforementioned, we
are to exceed the critical threshold of climate change by 2035, we will extend this timeframe to combat
global warming by replacing fossil fuel combustion with nuclear energy. However, eliminating fossil fuel
combustion will only decrease GHG emission by 87%, other sources of GHGs (e.g. transport and
livestock17) must as well be restrained to reach global carbon neutrality18. Of course, we cannot expect
climate change to come to a halt even if GHG emission ceases, temperature of the earth will still rise by
0.6C over the course of this century19, reforestation can accelerate this recovery process, as more trees
promote more photosynthesis, hence accelerating consumption and dissipation of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Being said, nuclear energy is a very efficient and realistic alternative energy in terms of tackling
growing energy demand and climate change. For future development, we should aim to improve safety of
nuclear energy (especially prevention from nuclear meltdown, and refining emergency measures in cases of
nuclear accidents) so nuclear energy poses less threat to the general public once realized; furthermore, we
should also aim to eliminate other sources of GHG and reforest deserted lands to accelerate recovering from
climate change.

16
"Nuclear Power: The Good, The Bad, and The Beautiful." Greening Forward. N.p., 29 Mar. 2016. Web. 16 Nov.
2016. <http://greeningforward.org/nuclear-power-the-good-the-bad-and-the-beautiful/>.
17
"Allianz." 15 Sources of Greenhouse Gases - About Us | Allianz. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<https://www.allianz.com/en/about_us/open-knowledge/topics/environment/articles/140912-fifteen-sources-
of-greenhouse-gases.html/#!mdd2d33a0-b147-4cce-acf7-b8b4246a5713>.
18
@digitalpolly. "COP21: Experts Discuss 'greenhouse Gas Emissions Neutrality' | Carbon Brief." Carbon Brief.
N.p., 04 Feb. 2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016. <https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop21-experts-discuss-greenhouse-gas-
emissions-neutrality>.
19 NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.

<http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/page5.php>.
Diagrams
 Bibliography

1. "About." Costs and Consequences of the Fukushima Daiichi Disaster | PSR. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.psr.org/environment-and-health/environmental-health-policy-institute/responses/costs-
and-consequences-of-fukushima.html?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.hk%2F>.

2. "Allianz." 15 Sources of Greenhouse Gases - About Us | Allianz. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<https://www.allianz.com/en/about_us/open-knowledge/topics/environment/articles/140912-fifteen-
sources-of-greenhouse-gases.html/#!mdd2d33a0-b147-4cce-acf7-b8b4246a5713>.

3. "CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion 2015." CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion (2015): n. pag. Web.
17 Nov. 2016.
<https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/CO2EmissionsFromFuelCombustionHi
ghlights2015.pdf>.

4. @digitalpolly. "COP21: Experts Discuss 'greenhouse Gas Emissions Neutrality' | Carbon Brief." Carbon
Brief. N.p., 04 Feb. 2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016. <https://www.carbonbrief.org/cop21-experts-discuss-
greenhouse-gas-emissions-neutrality>.

5. EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.

<https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-08/global-ghg-emissions_fig-1.csv>.

6. "Global Energy Trends BP Statistical Review 2014." Energy Matters. N.p., 17 June 2014. Web. 16 Nov.
2016. <http://euanmearns.com/global-energy-trends-bp-statistical-review-2014/>.

7. @harvardbiz. "Global Demand for Food Is Rising. Can We Meet It?" Harvard Business Review. N.p., 07
Apr. 2016. Web. 16 Nov. 2016. <https://hbr.org/2016/04/global-demand-for-food-is-rising-can-we-
meet-it>.

8. "How Nuclear Reactors Work." - Nuclear Energy Institute. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/How-Nuclear-Reactors-Work>.

9. Hvistendahl, Mara. "Coal Ash Is More Radioactive Than Nuclear Waste." Scientific American. N.p., 13
Dec. 2007. Web. 16 Nov. 2016. <https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/coal-ash-is-more-
radioactive-than-nuclear-waste/>.

10. Leveque, Francois. "The Risk of a Major Nuclear Accident: Calculation and Perception of
Probabilities." The Risk of a Major Nuclear Accident: Calculation and Perception of Probabilities. HAL, 4
July 2013. Web. 17 Nov. 2016. <https://hal-mines-paristech.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-
00795152/document>.

11. NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.

<http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/GlobalWarming/page5.php>.

12. "Nuclear Power: The Good, The Bad, and The Beautiful." Greening Forward. N.p., 29 Mar. 2016. Web. 16
Nov. 2016. <http://greeningforward.org/nuclear-power-the-good-the-bad-and-the-beautiful/>.
13. "Press Kit: Radioactive Waste Management." Nuclear Energy Agency - Press Kit: Radioactive Waste
Management. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016. <https://www.oecd-nea.org/news/press-kits/radioactive-
waste.html>.

14. "Radioactive Waste Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association." Radioactive
Waste Management | Nuclear Waste Disposal - World Nuclear Association. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/nuclear-wastes/radioactive-
waste-management.aspx>.

15. Scheller, Alissa, Hilary Fung/Huffington Post, and Brentin Mock. "2 Degrees Will Change the World |
Mother Jones." Mother Jones. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2016.
<http://m.motherjones.com/environment/2015/11/2-degrees-will-change-world-paris-climate-
change>.

16. "World Energy Needs and Nuclear Power." World Energy Needs and Nuclear Power. N.p., n.d. Web. 16
Nov. 2016. <http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/world-
energy-needs-and-nuclear-power.aspx>.