Nuclear Energy Nuclear energy is energy stored in the bonds holding protons and neutrons together in an atom 's nucleus, when split the broken bon releases an enormous amount of energy—nuclear fission, according to Nuclear Energy. Nuclear energy has been a global energy alternative source for nearly half a century. Its predecessor, nuclear power, developed for military use in World War II became the biggest fear during the Cold War. After the Cold War, international use of nuclear weapons were banned, and an initiative to transform weaponized nuclear power into a positive model for energy. Nuclear energy is the most feasible alternative energy source because of its low environmental impact, relatively low cost, reliability, and high energy
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The most commercialized benefit of nuclear energy is its low environment impact. Nuclear energy is a clean energy source, meaning it produces trace amounts of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. Awareness about climate change has influenced people and policy to push for alternative energy initiatives like the Clean Air Act of 1970, or the European Union’s 20/20/20 policy (2008) to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. “In 2012, the Energy Information Administration reported that greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector were 15 percent below 2005 levels, due in part to carbon-free electricity produced by nuclear energy.”(Nuclear Energy Institute). Repurposing nuclear elements and byproduct increases output and decreases nuclear waste, another reason that nuclear energy is the most responsible and resourceful energy alternative. The Nuclear Energy Institute’s Knowledge Center explains that “used uranium fuel assemblies from commercial reactors still have 90 percent of the original potential energy,” extracts the unused uranium fuel is called a “closed fuel …show more content…
Fortunately, nuclear energy is very consistent. Because scientists know the maximum amount of electricity one reactor can generate, the amount generated in one fuel cycle, and the cost of one fuel cycle, there is very little price inflation in the cost of nuclear electricity (Nuclear Energy Institute). Nuclear energy is very efficient, 90.9 percent of the maximum capacity of energy is released, whereas its competitors: geothermal produces 67.2 percent, 67.1 percent from burning biomass, coal produces 58.9 percent, while natural gas, hydro, wind, and solar each produce less than half of the potential electricity possible according to the Nuclear Energy Institute’s 2013 “Maximum Capacity” data chart. Most people take reliable energy for granted and assume that it is a guarantee, luckily, nuclear energy will be available for the worlds’ energy needs for many years to come. Nuclear energy is the best alternative energy source to fossil fuels used for electricity. As the computer generation matures, the need to of inventing, manufacturing, and investing in clean energy technology, like nuclear energy, to replace polluting, non-efficient, and shifty energy
The most commercialized benefit of nuclear energy is its low environment impact. Nuclear energy is a clean energy source, meaning it produces trace amounts of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere. Awareness about climate change has influenced people and policy to push for alternative energy initiatives like the Clean Air Act of 1970, or the European Union’s 20/20/20 policy (2008) to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. “In 2012, the Energy Information Administration reported that greenhouse gas emissions in the power sector were 15 percent below 2005 levels, due in part to carbon-free electricity produced by nuclear energy.”(Nuclear Energy Institute). Repurposing nuclear elements and byproduct increases output and decreases nuclear waste, another reason that nuclear energy is the most responsible and resourceful energy alternative. The Nuclear Energy Institute’s Knowledge Center explains that “used uranium fuel assemblies from commercial reactors still have 90 percent of the original potential energy,” extracts the unused uranium fuel is called a “closed fuel …show more content…
Fortunately, nuclear energy is very consistent. Because scientists know the maximum amount of electricity one reactor can generate, the amount generated in one fuel cycle, and the cost of one fuel cycle, there is very little price inflation in the cost of nuclear electricity (Nuclear Energy Institute). Nuclear energy is very efficient, 90.9 percent of the maximum capacity of energy is released, whereas its competitors: geothermal produces 67.2 percent, 67.1 percent from burning biomass, coal produces 58.9 percent, while natural gas, hydro, wind, and solar each produce less than half of the potential electricity possible according to the Nuclear Energy Institute’s 2013 “Maximum Capacity” data chart. Most people take reliable energy for granted and assume that it is a guarantee, luckily, nuclear energy will be available for the worlds’ energy needs for many years to come. Nuclear energy is the best alternative energy source to fossil fuels used for electricity. As the computer generation matures, the need to of inventing, manufacturing, and investing in clean energy technology, like nuclear energy, to replace polluting, non-efficient, and shifty energy