Nuclear energy: An option to address Climate

Nuclear energy: An option to address Climate

GS-3: Climate Change and Nuclear Energy

(UPSC/State PSC)

Important for Prelims:

Nuclear energy, climate change, nuclear power plants, nuclear reactors, uranium, plutonium, nuclear fission and fusion, Paris Agreement (2015), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant, Fukushima Nuclear Plant.

Important for Mains:

About Nuclear Energy, Nuclear Energy Scenario in India, Importance, Challenges of Nuclear Energy and Climate Solution, Conclusion.

01/04/2024

Why in news:

Recently, nuclear energy has been seen as an important option to solve global problems such as climate change and energy security.

About Nuclear Energy:

  • Nuclear energy is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear energy can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Currently, most electricity from nuclear energy is produced by the nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear power plants.

Nuclear Energy Scenario in India:

  • There are currently 23 operational nuclear reactors in the country, with a total capacity of 7.4 GWe.
  • In the year 2022, 3.1% of electricity was produced in the country through nuclear energy.
  • In 2010, India had set an ambitious target of 14.6 GWe nuclear power capacity by 2024.
  • By the end of October 2023, eight reactors with a combined capacity of 6.7 GWe were under construction in the country.
  • India has a large-scale indigenous nuclear power program and is committed to increasing its nuclear power capacity as part of its massive infrastructure development programme.
  • India's long-term strategy to transition to a 'low emissions' path includes more nuclear energy.
  • Target: India is on track to increase nuclear power generation capacity to 22,480 MW by 2031. It aims to produce nuclear power more than three times the current level of 6,780 MW in the coming decade.

Significance of Atomic Energy:

Low-carbon emissions energy source:

  • Nuclear power plants produce no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, and remain the second largest source of low carbon electricity globally and have historically avoided about 70 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide.
  • According to the IAEA, when the entire life cycle of nuclear power plants is considered – accounting for activities such as reactor construction, uranium mining and enrichment, waste disposal and storage, and other processes – greenhouse gas emissions are only 5 to 6 grams per kilowatt.
  • This is more than 100 times less than coal-fired electricity, and about half the average for solar and wind generation.

Reliable and scalable:

  • Nuclear energy can be deployed on a large scale and is a reliable source of electricity, providing clean, consistent and affordable electricity.

Alternative to fossil fuels:

  • Nuclear power can directly replace fossil fuel plants, avoiding the combustion of fossil fuels to produce electricity.

Useful in economic development:

  • The use of nuclear energy can support global economic growth by supplying large amounts of needed electricity.

Useful in energy security:

  • Nuclear energy can contribute to energy security by providing a stable source of energy.

Capacity for heating applications:

  • Nuclear power plants have the potential to utilize more nuclear capacity for thermal applications for future decarbonization efforts.

Support in Decarbonization:

  • Nuclear power can play an important role in the transition to a clean energy future and achieving carbon neutrality.

Global Effort:

Paris Agreement (2015):

  • The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change. The agreement covers climate change mitigation, adaptation and finance. The agreement was adopted by 196 parties at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris, France.
  • It aims to help countries deal with the impacts of climate change and mobilize adequate finance.
  • The long-term temperature goal of this agreement is to keep the increase in average global temperature well below 2 °C (3.6 °F) above pre-industrial levels, and preferably limit the increase to 1.5 °C (2.7 °F), so that the effects of climate change can be reduced to a great extent.
  • To limit the effects of climate change, the world must rapidly reduce its dependence on fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Role of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):

  • Established in 1957, the Atomic Energy Agency (IAIE) serves as the world's leading intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical assistance in the international use of nuclear energy.
  • The agency has launched 'Atoms4Climate' initiative for climate solutions and engagement with the climate community especially at the COP or annual year-end climate conferences.
  • At COP28 in Dubai, nearly 20 countries pledged to work towards tripling global nuclear power installed capacity by 2050.

Challenges of Nuclear Energy and Climate Solutions:

Security Concerns:

  • Incidents such as the Fukushima accident in 2011 have raised safety concerns about nuclear energy.
  • The ongoing crisis at the Zaporizhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, the first nuclear facility to be embroiled in deadly armed conflict, has also been a source of grave concern.

Waste disposal:

  • Long-term storage and disposal of radioactive waste is a complex issue that requires attention.
  • In 2021, Japan announced plans to release more than one million tons of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean over the next 30 years.

High Initial Cost:

  • The initial cost of setting up a nuclear power plant is high.
  • This includes the cost of safety measures, which may make nuclear power less economically viable than other energy sources.

Public Perception:

  • There is often public opposition to nuclear energy because of concerns about radiation and nuclear accidents.
  • This may pose challenges in construction of new plants.

Regulatory Barriers:

  • Nuclear power is highly regulated, which can slow the development and deployment of new reactors.

Nonproliferation Concerns:

  • There are concerns about the possible misuse of nuclear technology and materials for military purposes.

Conclusion:

  • Nuclear energy is a clean and environment-friendly source of power generation, which can provide sustainable long-term energy security to the country 24X7 hours. Therefore, the Indian Nuclear Energy Program is being developed by the Government to meet the twin goals of energy security and sustainable development.

Source: Indian Express

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Mains Question:

Nuclear energy can be an important option in addressing climate change. Discuss.