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The Nuclear Dilemma: Clean Energy Solution or Risky Gamble?
The Nuclear Dilemma: Clean Energy Solution or Risky Gamble?
Kaitlyn Fuller
Nuclear energy is one of the most villainized energy sources, but possibly has the best potential future for our environment. Although the disastrous accidents in history leave most people with a sense of dread, there is a positive outlook if we use it to our full advantage. If the world ran singularly on nuclear power, a utopia can be pictured with nothing but clean water and clear skies. While it's nice to picture such a future, it's not that simple.
The process begins with the mining of uranium where typically ISL mining is utilized. ISL mining is where oxygenated groundwater is circulated through the small openings of the orebody to dissolve the uranium oxide and bring it to the surface. ISL mining uses a weak acid or alkaline solution to keep the uranium in solution. The strained uranium oxide is then recovered from the solution. The extracted uranium is then milled by crushing the ore to a fine slurry which is then leached in a strong alkaline solution so it can separate uranium from the waste rock. The uranium is then recovered from the solution and is turned into uranium oxide concentrate. The concentrate is dried and heated until it is packed into large 200-liter drums and is called ‘yellowcake,’ the concentrate now contains more than 80% of uranium which then subdues the original ore that contained 0.1% uranium.
The uranium is treated until it is enrichened and suitable enough to be used for fuel in the reactor. The process is long and complicated, the fuel generates heat and creates steam using water, the steam spins the turbines used for electricity. The fuel spends around 3-5 years in the reactor and then is disposed of once no longer practical to use. The waste can be separated into usable and non-usable waste. The non-usable waste can be stored underwater for cooling and radiation shielding, but can also be stored underground. The waste can be disposed underground in stable rock formations in long lasting containers based on their favorable stability and geochemistry.
The entire process is a low carbon source of energy and doesn't produce carbon dioxide that pushes back current climate change goals. Nuclear energy has the lowest level of fatality rate per unit of energy generated compared to other energy sources like oil, coal, and natural gases that have a higher fatality rate because of carbon dioxide emissions and other accidents involved. That doesn't necessarily mean that nuclear energy is completely safe though. “It can be really good but there can also be a lot of bad, it all depends if that amount of power is in the right hands” says a student from FHS when asked about their opinion on nuclear energy. Past incidents should be a constant reminder that even though there is a high level of reward, there is a high risk if somebody decides to push the rules.