The term ‘renewable energy’ generally refers to electrical energy produced from a renewable resource, such as wind or solar power. Nuclear energy is currently produced using uranium, which is not a renewable resource. However, some stakeholders describe it as a source of clean energy because it does not release greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the biggest sustainability issue associated with nuclear energy is nuclear waste disposal, not the availability of uranium. Therefore, some people describe nuclear energy as part of a short-term solution on the path to a 100 percent clean energy society.
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How Nuclear Energy Works
Nuclear energy is based on a process called nuclear fission. In a nuclear power plant, nuclear fission occurs when a neutron collides with a uranium atom, causing it to split and release a large amount of energy. This sets off a nuclear chain reaction that generates even more fission reactions. The heat released by these reactions creates steam that powers a turbine, generating electricity.
Current Debates and Definitions for Nuclear Energy
Nuclear power uses radioactive uranium as an energy source. Uranium must be mined, which is a dangerous process that releases high levels of emissions.
Uranium is also radioactive making it sensitive to handle even after it has been used as fuel. Therefore, many sustainability advocates take issue with nuclear power and would shudder at the thought of it being a source of renewable energy.
However, nuclear power plants do not release greenhouse gas and are highly efficient energy producers. According to the US Department of Energy, nuclear power plants produce maximum power more than 92 percent of the time, which is around twice the capacity of fossil fuel power plants. Renewable power plants are highly limited, producing intermittent or variable electricity.
Nuclear Energy’s Environmental Impact
Since nuclear energy production began in the 1950s, more than 490,000 tons of spent uranium fuel have been produced, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency. Approximately two-thirds of this spent fuel is stored, and one-third is reprocessed. Furthermore, it is important to note that not all of this fuel has the same level of radioactivity. The IAEA has classified around 95 percent of all existing waste as having “very low level” or “low level” radioactivity.
It is also important to note the positive environmental impact of nuclear energy with respect to emissions. The use of nuclear energy has prevented approximately 66 gigatons of carbon dioxide emissions over the last 50 years, equivalent to two years’ worth of emissions for the entire globe.
Sustainability Considerations of Nuclear Power
In the US, radioactive waste is being stored securely at more than 70 nuclear reactor sites around the country. Approximately 25 percent of these sites no longer have an operational reactor. According to the Department of Energy, there are potential plans to consolidate this waste at several federal storage facilities. However, the government agency has argued that the waste is stored safely at these reactor sites.
Government agencies and policymakers must also consider nuclear power's positive impacts. According to the Department of Energy, US nuclear power prevented more than 470 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from being released in 2020, which is the equivalent of taking 100 million cars off the road.
Nuclear power plants also have a relatively small footprint compared to renewable energy facilities. The typical US nuclear power plant operates on one square mile. By comparison, the typical US wind farm needs 360 square miles to produce the same amount of energy as a nuclear power plant, and the typical solar farm needs 75 square miles to generate the same amount of energy.
Why Nuclear Energy is Suddenly Making a Comeback
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Policy and Global Perspective
While nuclear energy has stirred up a lot of debate, especially regarding the disposal of nuclear waste, many countries around the world are developing policies that embrace nuclear power, at least for the near future.
In the US, nuclear energy received a major boost in the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Signed into law by the Biden administration, the act includes a tax credit for the creation of zero-emission nuclear power plants and incentives for the continued operation of existing reactors.
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Of all the countries around the world, Japan arguably has the strongest justification for cutting back on nuclear power after the Fukushima power plant disaster in 2011. However, a Japanese law passed in 2023 allows companies to operate nuclear reactors for longer than previously allowed, up to 60 years in some cases. A law passed in 2022 paved the way for developing new nuclear power plants in Japan.
Many countries in the European Union are also continuing to embrace nuclear power for the foreseeable future. In the United Kingdom, a policy established in 2022 set the stage for eight new nuclear reactors.
The government in Belgium recently extended the operation of two existing reactors through 2035, which will meet approximately 15 percent of the country’s demand. In France, the government recently decided to construct six new nuclear reactors and has an option to build an additional eight reactors.
References and Further Reading
International Atomic Energy Agency [IAEA]. (2023, November 06). New IAEA report presents global overview of radioactive waste and spent fuel management. https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/new-iaea-report-presents-global-overview-of-radioactive-waste-and-spent-fuel-management
International Energy Agency [IEA]. (Retrieved 2024 November 5). Nuclear Power. https://www.iea.org/energy-system/electricity/nuclear-power
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). (2024, October 24). 3 Reasons Why Nuclear is Clean and Sustainable. https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/3-reasons-why-nuclear-clean-and-sustainable
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). (n.d.). NUCLEAR 101: How Does a Nuclear Reactor Work?. https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/nuclear-101-how-does-nuclear-reactor-work
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