Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Power

Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Power

There are many advantages and disadvantages of nuclear power. There are also ethical concerns as well as political concerns. The following article addresses many of the major advantages and disadvantages to nuclear power.

Advantages of Nuclear Power:

• Nuclear power plants don't take up much space. This allows them to be placed in already developed areas and the power does not have to be transferred over long  distances.
• It doesn't pollute in a very direct way. It is cleaner than many other forms of energy production. This is in reference to greenhouse gas emissions which are released into the atmosphere. There is a waste product as described below.
• Another advantage of nuclear power is that nuclear energy is by far the most concentrated form of energy, so it can be produced in large quantities over short periods of time.
• The possibility for long term production is great since new reactors, where costly can be made when the old ones wear out. Oil reserves and other fossil type fuels are likely to run out at some point.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Power:

• Nuclear Power generates radiation, which can be harmful or even fatal to infected people.
• A nuclear meltdown can often occur which will release massive amounts of radiation into the community.
• Extremely radioactive nuclear  waste is produced by nuclear power plants. This stuff can’t be just thrown out. The US plans to move all its nuclear was to an underground dump by the year 2010. Currently it is stored in the plants.
• Nuclear waste dumps can spontaneously combust without warning.
• Nuclear reactors only last for about forty to fifty years, so where they are extremely productive, they break down and are costly to replace.
• There are international dangers too. Some reactors produce plutonium which can be used to make nuclear weapons. If the whole world were to use these, they would have unlimited access to nuclear weapons.