Difference between revisions of "Nuclear energy"

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[[Category:3]]
 
[[Category:Energy]]
 
[[Category:Energy]]
 
[[Category:Nuclear energy]]
 
[[Category:Nuclear energy]]
The subject of nuclear energy is one in which the difference between the opinions of the experts and those of the public differ most widely, and on which emotions are most strongly charged. Strongly pro-nuclear advocates claim that nuclear power can solve the climate emergency and usher in an era of limitless cheap energy and universal prosperity beyond our wildest dreams. Opponents assert that nuclear energy will turn the world into an eerily-glowing post-apocalyptic wasteland inhabited only by horrific mutants.
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The subject of nuclear energy is one in which the opinions of the experts and those of the public differ most widely, and on which emotions are most strongly charged. Advocates assert that nuclear energy (usually [[Thorium]]-powered [[LFTR]]s) will effortlessly solve the climate emergency and usher in an era of limitless cheap energy and universal prosperity beyond our wildest dreams. Opponents claim that nuclear energy will turn the world into an eerily-glowing post-apocalyptic wasteland inhabited only by horrific mutants<ref>
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This may be an exaggeration of proponents' and opponents' positions.
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<br>Or maybe not.
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</ref>.
  
 
[[File:Simpsons Blinky.jpg | center | 240px ]]
 
[[File:Simpsons Blinky.jpg | center | 240px ]]
  
Between these extremes the experts &mdash; such as the [[IPCC]] working group 3 and the International Energy Agency, working painstakingly and thoroughly through the scientific evidence and models &mdash; find that nuclear energy is a necessary part of mitigation efforts with any hope of effectively tackling climate change, but is not on its own sufficient; we also need [[Renewable energy|renewables]], [[CCS|Carbon Capture and Storage]], energy efficiency, conservation, and reduction, and just about every other resource we can muster to deal with the emergency we find ourselves in.
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Between these extremes the experts &mdash; such as [[IPCC]] working group 3 and the International Energy Agency, working painstakingly and thoroughly through the scientific evidence and models &mdash; find that nuclear energy is a necessary part of mitigation efforts with any hope of effectively tackling climate change, but is not on its own sufficient; we also need [[Renewable energy|renewables]], [[CCS|Carbon Capture and Storage]], energy efficiency, conservation, and reduction,
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[[carbon pricing]], and every other significant resource we can muster to deal with the emergency we find ourselves in.
  
 
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There are a number of articles about nuclear energy on this site. Some useful ones are:
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There are a number of articles about nuclear energy on this site, including:
 
* [[What is nuclear energy?]] - what is fission, fusion, and radioactive decay, and what are the different types of fission reactors,
 
* [[What is nuclear energy?]] - what is fission, fusion, and radioactive decay, and what are the different types of fission reactors,
 
* [[How safe is nuclear energy?]] - what about Fukushima, Chernobyl, and Three Mile Island?
 
* [[How safe is nuclear energy?]] - what about Fukushima, Chernobyl, and Three Mile Island?
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*** [[Chernobyl]]]
 
*** [[Chernobyl]]]
 
*** [[Three Mile Island]]
 
*** [[Three Mile Island]]
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* [[Spent nuclear fuel]] and [[Nuclear waste]] - articles about the management and long-term disposal of nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel
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* [[Nuclear proliferation]] - does having nuclear energy make it easier or harder for states to build nuclear weapons?
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* [[Nuclear radiation]] - what is nuclear radiation and how dangerous is it?
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** [[What is nuclear radiation?]] - Alpha particles, Beta particles, Gamma rays and neutrons
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** [[Radiation hormesis]] - the hypothesis that low level radiation enhances health
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* [[Sustainability of nuclear fuels]] - how much Uranium and other fuels do we have?
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* [[Nuclear decommissioning]] - decommissioning nuclear power stations etc
 
* [[How fast can we build nuclear?]] - doesn't it take too long to build? How does it compare with the speed of building other clean energy generation?
 
* [[How fast can we build nuclear?]] - doesn't it take too long to build? How does it compare with the speed of building other clean energy generation?
 
* [[Economics of nuclear energy]] - how much does it cost to build nuclear plants, and how much does the power they produce cost?
 
* [[Economics of nuclear energy]] - how much does it cost to build nuclear plants, and how much does the power they produce cost?
 
* [[Carbon intensity of nuclear energy]] - is nuclear really low carbon? How low?
 
* [[Carbon intensity of nuclear energy]] - is nuclear really low carbon? How low?
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* [[Expert assessments of nuclear energy]] - what do the IPCC, IEA etc say about nuclear energy?
 
* [[Public perception of nuclear energy]] - a collection of links to pro- and anti-nuclear pieces.
 
* [[Public perception of nuclear energy]] - a collection of links to pro- and anti-nuclear pieces.
 
* [[Nuclear energy by state]] - articles about nuclear energy in various parts of the world.
 
* [[Nuclear energy by state]] - articles about nuclear energy in various parts of the world.
** [[Hinkley Point C]] - articles about the EPR being built at Hinkley Point in Somerset
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** [[Nuclear energy in the UK]]
* [[EPR]] - articles about the "European Pressurised Reactor" / "Evolutionary Power Reactor" being built at Hinkley Point and elsewhere
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*** [[Hinkley Point C]] - articles about the EPR being built at Hinkley Point in Somerset
* [[Hualong One]] - an evolutionary Chinese design of Pressurised Water Reactor which may be built at Bradwell in Essex
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* Articles about specific reactors:
* [[New Nuclear Reactor Technologies]] - various types of reactor being developed or proposed
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** [[EPR]] - the "European Pressurised Reactor" / "Evolutionary Power Reactor" being built at Hinkley Point and elsewhere
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** "[[Hualong One]]" / HP1000 - an evolutionary Chinese design of Pressurised Water Reactor which may be built at Bradwell in Essex
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** [[KEPCO APR1400]] - Korean PWR
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* [[New nuclear reactor technologies]] - various types of reactor being developed or proposed
 
** [[Small Modular Reactors]]
 
** [[Small Modular Reactors]]
 
** [[Molten Salt Reactors]]
 
** [[Molten Salt Reactors]]
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*** [[Terrestrial Energy]] - a Canadian company developing a small modular reactor for use in remote locations
 
*** [[Terrestrial Energy]] - a Canadian company developing a small modular reactor for use in remote locations
 
*** [[Thorcon]] - a company planning to build Thorium-fuelled molten salt reactors in shipyards.
 
*** [[Thorcon]] - a company planning to build Thorium-fuelled molten salt reactors in shipyards.
** [[Fast breeder reactors]]
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** [[Fast breeder reactors]] - reactors that can create their own fuel and burn up radioactive waste
 
** [[Nuclear fusion]] - some articles about fusion
 
** [[Nuclear fusion]] - some articles about fusion
* [[Nuclear proliferation]] - does having nuclear energy make it easier or harder for states to build nuclear weapons?
 
* [[Nuclear radiation]] - what is nuclear radiation and how dangerous is it?
 
** [[What is nuclear radiation?]] - Alpha particles, Beta particles, Gamma rays and neutrons
 
** [[Radiation hormesis]] - the hypothesis that low level radiation enhances health
 
* [[Nuclear waste]] - articles about the management and long-term disposal of nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel
 
  
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A list of all articles on Nuclear Energy can be found [[:Category:Nuclear energy | here]].
  
* [[:Category:Nuclear energy|All articles in the category "Nuclear energy"]]
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{{refs}}

Revision as of 17:08, 2 October 2020

The subject of nuclear energy is one in which the opinions of the experts and those of the public differ most widely, and on which emotions are most strongly charged. Advocates assert that nuclear energy (usually Thorium-powered LFTRs) will effortlessly solve the climate emergency and usher in an era of limitless cheap energy and universal prosperity beyond our wildest dreams. Opponents claim that nuclear energy will turn the world into an eerily-glowing post-apocalyptic wasteland inhabited only by horrific mutants[1].

Simpsons Blinky.jpg

Between these extremes the experts — such as IPCC working group 3 and the International Energy Agency, working painstakingly and thoroughly through the scientific evidence and models — find that nuclear energy is a necessary part of mitigation efforts with any hope of effectively tackling climate change, but is not on its own sufficient; we also need renewables, Carbon Capture and Storage, energy efficiency, conservation, and reduction, carbon pricing, and every other significant resource we can muster to deal with the emergency we find ourselves in.


There are a number of articles about nuclear energy on this site, including:


A list of all articles on Nuclear Energy can be found here.


Footnotes and references

  1. This may be an exaggeration of proponents' and opponents' positions.
    Or maybe not.