Nuclear Flashcards
What was support like for Labour’s 2008 plan to replace existing nuclear stations with new builds?
more people supported than objected
What has happened to nuclear support in the past 10yrs?
10% increase
What remains the biggest issue for the public in relation to nuclear?
waste disposal
What is notable about nuclear employment?
ranked highest for job creation and investment out of all energy sources
What was Germany’s reaction to Fukushima?
Germany began accelerating phasing out all of its 17 reactors
What is nuclear in terms of reliability?
regarded as most reliable source of energy
What is a physical limitation of nuclear power?
very few
although can be damaged in Earthquake zones
e.g Japan’s 2011 EQ and Tsunami damaged Fukushima
What was Japan originally going to do to nuclear capacity prior to Fukushima?
increase it by 50%
Disadvantages economic of nuclear;
- most uranium supply concentrated with a few foreign companies (mainly in Australia)
- costs of decommissioning / safety / insurance very high
- foreign companies needed to build reactors in UK due to lack of skill
Economic benefits of nuclear;
+ costs are up front
+ largest energy employer
+ creates large electricity base load - so can replace fossil fuels
Political / environmental costs of nuclear;
- uranium mining not eco friendly
- disasters / accidents can cause construction of new plants to halt
- public opinion fluctuates
- terrorist targets
Political / environmental benefits of nuclear;
+ uranium can be sourced from ‘friendly’ nations (e.g Australia)
+ can help meet Paris 2030 targets
+ can help to plug energy gap
+ reduced reliance on Russia for natural gas / oil on Middle East
Where currently has the largest % of energy supplied by nuclear? How many reactors do they have?
USA
100+
How many reactors does China currently have as of 2008?
32
What % of USA’s energy is from nuclear?
30%
