Classic sources of energy from the very beginning of industrialization were natural resources: oil, gas and coal, burned to produce energy. With the development of industry and other industries, as well as in connection with the inevitable environmental crisis, humanity is discovering new sources of energy that do not have such a detrimental effect on the environment, are more energetically profitable and do not require the depletion of exhaustible natural resources. Nuclear power (also called nuclear) deserves special attention.
What is its advantage? Nuclear power is based mainly on the use of uranium as an energy source and, to a lesser extent, plutonium. The reserves of uranium in the earth's crust and the world's oceans, which can be mined using modern technologies, are estimated at 108 tons. This amount will be enough for another thousand years, which is incomparable with the remaining reserves, for example, of the same oil. Nuclear power with proper operation and waste disposal is practically safe for the environmental situation - the amount of emissions of various harmful substances into the environment is negligible. Finally, nuclear power is efficient from an economic point of view. All this suggests that the development of nuclear energy has a hugeimportance to the energy industry as a whole.
Today, the share of nuclear power plants in global energy production is approximately 16%. Nuclear power is currently developing at a somewhat slower pace. The main reason for this is the belief in its danger that has spread among the public. The catastrophe in Japan a few years ago and the still unforgotten accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant contribute to creating an unpleasant image of nuclear energy. The fact is that the causes of such disasters are always the human factor and / or non-compliance with safety regulations. Accordingly, with careful operation and development of safety at nuclear power plants, the likelihood of such incidents is minimized.
Other problems of nuclear energy also include questions about the disposal of radioactive waste and the fate of non-functioning nuclear power plants. With regard to waste, their amount is much less than the number of those in other sectors of the energy industry. Various studies are also being carried out, the purpose of which is to find the best way to dispose of waste.
Prospects for nuclear energy in modern industry, however, rather negative. Despite its theoretical advantage, in reality it turned out that nuclear energy cannot completely replace the classical industries. In addition, public distrust of it and problems with ensuring safety at nuclear power plants play their role. While nuclear power will certainly not disappear as such anytime soon, it is unlikely to have high expectations and will simply complement the classical energy industry.
