Abstract
Research into environmental pollution and global warming has induced the energy industry and various levels of government to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels, especially coal and oil. One of the options being considered is increasing nuclear power generation, which has the advantage of high production capacity that can be fully utilized, low fuel consumption and low cost relative to the amount of electricity being generated. However, despite technological progress, the share of nuclear energy in the world’s energy mix is decreasing, especially in countries with highly developed economies. The reasons for this are high capital expenditures and their uncontrolled increase, fear of contamination of the natural environment in the event of a failure or terrorist attack as well as difficulties in long-term disposal of radioactive waste. This article analyzes the development of nuclear power as an alternative to fossil fuels in the pursuit of sustainable development, in particular with regard to investment outlays, the cost of generating electricity, environmental protection and security.
Highlights
The first nuclear power plants began operation in the 1950s, beginning in the Soviet Union in 1954, followed by the United Kingdom in 1956, the United States in 1957 and Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Sweden in the 1960s[4]
The share of nuclear power has risen from 3.3% to 10.4% during this time
The United States is the largest producer of nuclear energy with a production of 840 TWh, that is almost one third of the world’s total and close to 20% of the country’s electricity production
Summary
None (no fuel is consumed – it only changes location) Flooding and other land and waterway degradation. Wood (and other biomass, biogas or biofuels), waste, hydrocarbons (coal, oil, natural gas) Pollution, including nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX) and fine dust particulates (PM10 and PM2.5); plus large CO2 emissions. Wood (and other biomass, biogas or biofuels), waste, hydrocarbons (coal, oil, natural gas) Pollution, including nitrogen oxides (NOX), sulfur oxides (SOX) and fine dust particulates (PM10 and PM2.5); plus large CO2 emissions. million x gravitational
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