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Nuclear Power

Nuclear power is a relatively new and controversial technology and only 17% of the world’s power is produced by nuclear power. Nuclear power is produced by Controlled nuclear reactions that remove usable power from atomic nuclei. This is a very effective way of producing energy but uranium has to be mined and radio active waste has to be stored which has an affect on the environment.

The first working experiment with nuclear fission was in 1934 and done by Enrico Fermi, but the first nuclear power station that was commercial wasn’t opened until the 1950’s. In the last third of the 20th century there was a movement of objection by people toward nuclear power.

The process in which energy is produced from uranium is the nuclear fuel cycle. After the fuel in the reactor has been used it can be recycled and used again as new fuel. The heat that is formed by the nuclear reaction produces the energy.

The main factor that makes nuclear energy so controversial is its affect on the environment. From 2006 until March this year 64 615 tones of uranium were needed to produce nuclear energy. Uranium is radioactive and needs special management this all effects the environment. With nuclear energy also comes radioactive waste which has to be stored this is particularly bad for the environment as the waste that is produced per unit is much greater and more damaging than any other source of electricity. Along with these environmental factors there is also the cost; nuclear energy has a higher maintenance and operating costs than any other energy producing methods.

Although there are many risks to the environment there are also benefits. Uranium is a natural element and unlike fossil fuels there is lots of it so nuclear energy is a realistic energy source for the future years when fossil fuels run out. The burning of fossil fuels is the source of around one third of the greenhouse gasses, the production of nuclear energy does not involve this and therefore does not...