Debate Topics On Nuclear Energy
The nuclear debate updated april 2018.
Debate topics on nuclear energy. It is also the sector that can most readily be decarbonised. Here are some of the benefits we should consider in a fair debate about nuclear energy. In june 1999 a report entitled nuclear energy. The nuclear power debate is a long running controversy about the risks and benefits of using nuclear reactors to generate electricity for civilian purposes.
The electricity heat sector is the largest source of human made co 2 emissions. But a joint study by the international energy agency iea and the oecd nuclear energy agency concludes that nuclear energy costs remain in line with those of other energy technologies. Whether we talk about fission or fusion nuclear reactions we re still producing a large amount of energy. It is the most efficient use of the earth s resources.
Furthermore if we don t start using renewable now then we may never make the switch so this is the chance to take that first step. However if the plant s cooling systems aren t functioning properly the reactor core becomes too hot and begins to release the radioactive byproducts of nuclear fission into the atmosphere water and soil. Opponents of nuclear energy sometimes use the argument that nuclear generation is more expensive than other forms of energy generation. The debate about nuclear power peaked during the 1970s and 1980s as more and more reactors were built and came online and reached an intensity unprecedented in the history of technology controversies in some countries.
The first round is for acceptance only no new arguments in round 5. Nuclear energy is proven available today and can be expanded quickly. In fact we could be producing 100 of our energy from renewables by 2050 and the technology is already ready for market particularly if the subsidies for fossil fuels and nuclear are cut. Nuclear meltdowns are many people s biggest fear about nuclear energy.
For the purposes of this debate lets assume that nuclear power is renewable as that is a major topic of debate we will also limit this debate to technology that is commercially available as of january 2013. Nuclear energy has a smaller surface area footprint on the land. The very core of the atom s nucleus releases the nuclear energy. Nuclear power plants don t explode like nuclear bombs do.
In fact a gram of uranium can generate as much electricity as four tonnes of coal.