Nuclear Energy not a Solution for the Energy crisis in Europe Energy is an important part of our daily lives helping citizens to achieve a comfortable lifestyle through electricity. However, resources like oil and non-renewable resources which generates the majority of current energy are running out and that the world needs alternative energy in order to solve the increasing demand. Nuclear energy is one possible energy alternative which can be useful for the world. European countries are one of the biggest users of nuclear energy with France as the leader of nuclear energy in the world as it supplied around 72% of the country’s electricity (as cited in World Nuclear report (2015 p160)). Even though some countries in Europe still believe
…show more content…
According to Shrader-Frechette (2011 p80), nuclear power plants can only operate for an average of 70% of the time due to maintenance schedule and breakdowns. Regular maintenance needs and breakdowns implies that nuclear energy cannot generate the full capacity, which results in the addition of cost for the users. Nuclear energy also cannot compete with other forms of renewable energy. Andrianov et al (2015 p1004) write that nuclear energy is not competitive enough with other energy sources in terms of efficiency such that its cost exceeds its benefits for the users. The benefits of nuclear energy such as low carbon emissions do not balance with the cost. Due to a lack of belief in nuclear energy, there are also increasing trend of the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in Europe before the end of its useful life and the abandonment of construction of nuclear plants which might suggest its poor prospects. For example, in Germany, there have been 3 demolition of its nuclear power plants and a suspension of service for 7 of its 17 nuclear power plants in 2010 (as cited in Franchino (2014 p213)). Although Germany needs the energy produced by these nuclear reactors, risk analysis suggests that these nuclear power plants are actually inefficient and accident-prone. Germany who is led by Angela Merkel – a former nuclear research scientist, even describes that the …show more content…
With a current drop in oil prices, nuclear projects will not be economically feasible and desirable (as cited in World Nuclear Report (2015 p127)). Even though the dip in oil prices will only occur in the short term, improving efficiencies of power plants be a fix to make the current supply of oil and non-renewable resources last longer. According to Feiveson (2009 p68), the world energy outlook states that the generation of energy using coal will improve its efficiencies up to 50% by 2030 which can lengthen the time to use up current reserves of non-renewable resources. Other than non-renewable resources, renewable resources such as wind power are also available for European countries in order to solve their energy crisis. A study conducted in 2009 states that nuclear energy prices for electricity is $0.21/kWh, while wind power energy and solar photovoltaic panels can cost only
According to Shrader-Frechette (2011 p80), nuclear power plants can only operate for an average of 70% of the time due to maintenance schedule and breakdowns. Regular maintenance needs and breakdowns implies that nuclear energy cannot generate the full capacity, which results in the addition of cost for the users. Nuclear energy also cannot compete with other forms of renewable energy. Andrianov et al (2015 p1004) write that nuclear energy is not competitive enough with other energy sources in terms of efficiency such that its cost exceeds its benefits for the users. The benefits of nuclear energy such as low carbon emissions do not balance with the cost. Due to a lack of belief in nuclear energy, there are also increasing trend of the decommissioning of nuclear power plants in Europe before the end of its useful life and the abandonment of construction of nuclear plants which might suggest its poor prospects. For example, in Germany, there have been 3 demolition of its nuclear power plants and a suspension of service for 7 of its 17 nuclear power plants in 2010 (as cited in Franchino (2014 p213)). Although Germany needs the energy produced by these nuclear reactors, risk analysis suggests that these nuclear power plants are actually inefficient and accident-prone. Germany who is led by Angela Merkel – a former nuclear research scientist, even describes that the …show more content…
With a current drop in oil prices, nuclear projects will not be economically feasible and desirable (as cited in World Nuclear Report (2015 p127)). Even though the dip in oil prices will only occur in the short term, improving efficiencies of power plants be a fix to make the current supply of oil and non-renewable resources last longer. According to Feiveson (2009 p68), the world energy outlook states that the generation of energy using coal will improve its efficiencies up to 50% by 2030 which can lengthen the time to use up current reserves of non-renewable resources. Other than non-renewable resources, renewable resources such as wind power are also available for European countries in order to solve their energy crisis. A study conducted in 2009 states that nuclear energy prices for electricity is $0.21/kWh, while wind power energy and solar photovoltaic panels can cost only