Climate Change and Nuclear Power - 4
Posted 7th-September-2008 at 12:47 AM by ashy
**This is an essay I have written as part of my Physics degree at Imperial College, London. All rights on its use are reserved.
Note to Imperial markers: if, in your check to make sure I haven't plagiarised anyone, you come across this, I am the same person!**
This essay is also hosted at my wesbite: www.howtopowertheworld.com
This is page 4 of 4. References can be found on page 4.
The Point
The reason for the sudden urge to switch to non GHG emitting fuels is due, environmentally at least, to the IPCC report proving the effects of climate change. In an ideal world, we would give up our fast-paced lifestyles, stop driving, grow our own food and be good little Humans. Unfortunately, that is never going to happen. We are too set in our ways, and too dependant on our technology to forego it.
Improving energy efficiency and making small changes which will not drastically affect our lifestyles will help, as well as merely being sensible. For example, rather than flying from London to Scotland, a bus will save both money and masses of GHG emissions. Buying an A efficiency-rated appliance rather than an E rated appliance, turning lights off when not in use, and taking public transport instead of driving will all help, and are not asking too much. These small changes add up to make large contributions to reducing GHG emissions.
The rest of the emissions will be reduced by switching to alternative fuels. Nuclear power should make up a large part of this, but it should by no means be alone. Nuclear fission is a far cry from a clean source of energy. GHGs are emitted during the mining of Uranium, building the reactor itself produces more , and some of the waste is very unpleasant. Nuclear fission is in fact a very inelegant source of power. It does however produce far more energy per unit mass of fuel than fossil fuels, and despite its emissions, still releases a much smaller volume of GHGs than fossil fuel combustion.
Nuclear fission is the only source of power which is developed enough, and which would produce enough energy reliably, to replace fossil fuels. The difference is that while nuclear fission produces a quantity of nuclear waste, the sheer volume of GHGs emitted by fossil fuels is far more dangerous to our climate.
We will get over our irrational fears, but nuclear power is surrounded by a cloud of ignorance which will take time to lift. Perhaps we need an Intergovernmental Panel on Nuclear Power before anyone is convinced. The pro- and anti-nuclear lobbyists need to find some common ground: nuclear fission would be prominent, but it would not be permanent, being only an interim solution. Debates are needed, but the state of the climate is not dependent on good intentions. It is a sobering, if not terrifying, thought that the future of the Earth's climate could depend on something as transient as a popularity contest between two warring parties.
References
The code "WG1-TS" (standing for 'Working Group 1 - Technical Summary') will be used in place of the following to save repetition: Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, R.B. Alley, T. Berntsen, N.L. Bindoff, Z. Chen, A. Chidthaisong, J.M. Gregory, G.C. Hegerl, M. Heimann, B. Hewitson, B.J. Hoskins, F. Joos, J. Jouzel, V. Kattsov, U. Lohmann, T. Matsuno, M. Molina, N. Nicholls, J. Overpeck, G. Raga, V. Ramaswamy, J. Ren, M. Rusticucci, R. Somerville, T.F. Stocker, P. Whetton, R.A. Wood and D. Wratt, 2007: Technical Summary. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
The code "WG1-SPM" (standing for 'Working Group 1 - Summary for Policy Makers') will be used in place of the following to save repetition: IPCC, 2007: Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
[1] WG1-TS Page 81.
[2] WG1-SPM Page 13, Table SPM.3.
[3] "Reading Transport places UK's largest ever order for ethanol-powered buses", available at:
http://www.scania.co.uk/About_Scania...ng_Transport_p laces_UKs_largest_ever_order_for_ethanol_powered_b uses.asp, Chris Love, accessed 01/12/2007 - note: the text in quotation marks is a quote from the Reading buses themselves, and does not appear in the referenced article, Scania.
[4] WG1-TS Page 33, Table TS.2.
[5] "BWEA - Frequently Asked Questions", available at: BWEA - Frequently Asked Questions , see question "How much of the time do wind turbines generate electricity?", accessed 02/12/2007, British Wind Energy Association
[6] P. Norman, A. Worrall, K. Hesketh, Physics World, Vol 20, No 7, July 2007, page 25
[7] "Uranium Enrichment", available at: NRC: Uranium Enrichment , accessed 02/12/2007, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
[8] "Plutonium", available at: Plutonium , accessed 02/12/2007, World Nuclear Association
[9] "Human Health Fact Sheet", available at: http://consolidationeis.doe.gov/PDFs...eetOct2001.pdf, US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, accessed 04/12/2007
[10] "UK : The Contenders", available at: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | UK nuclear power: The contenders , accessed 04/12/2007, British Broadcasting Corporation
[11]"BWEA - Frequently Asked Questions", available at: BWEA - Frequently Asked Questions , see question "How much electricity does one wind turbine produce?", accessed 04/12/2007, British Wind Energy Association
[12] "IAEA deliberately downplays Chernobyl death toll to pave way for nuclear renaissance", available at: http://www.greenpeace.org/internatio...bylforumclosin gday , accessed 05/12/2007
[13] "About Greenpeace | Greenpeace International" available at: About Greenpeace | Greenpeace International , accessed 08/12/2007
[14] "Oil & Gas UK - Industry Issues - Gas - Index Page", available at: Oil & Gas UK - Industry Issues - Gas - Index Page , accessed 09/12/2007
[15] "BBC NEWS | Programmes | If | If... The Lights Go Out", available at BBC NEWS | Programmes | If | If... The Lights Go Out , accessed 09/12/2007, British Broadcasting Corporation
[16] Robert Davies, available at http://environment.newscientist.com/...s/mg19125693.7 00-nuclear-power-return-of-the-atom.html ,accessed 09/12/2007. Printed in New Scientist , 15 September 2006.
[17] Andrew Bloodworth, New Scientist, issue 2614 of New Scientist magazine, 28 July 2007, page 23, available at:
Uranium reserves - 28 July 2007 - New Scientist , accessed 11/12/2007
[18] "The ITER project", available at: The ITER project , ITER, accessed 11/12/2007
4 of 4
Note to Imperial markers: if, in your check to make sure I haven't plagiarised anyone, you come across this, I am the same person!**
This essay is also hosted at my wesbite: www.howtopowertheworld.com
This is page 4 of 4. References can be found on page 4.
The Point
The reason for the sudden urge to switch to non GHG emitting fuels is due, environmentally at least, to the IPCC report proving the effects of climate change. In an ideal world, we would give up our fast-paced lifestyles, stop driving, grow our own food and be good little Humans. Unfortunately, that is never going to happen. We are too set in our ways, and too dependant on our technology to forego it.
Improving energy efficiency and making small changes which will not drastically affect our lifestyles will help, as well as merely being sensible. For example, rather than flying from London to Scotland, a bus will save both money and masses of GHG emissions. Buying an A efficiency-rated appliance rather than an E rated appliance, turning lights off when not in use, and taking public transport instead of driving will all help, and are not asking too much. These small changes add up to make large contributions to reducing GHG emissions.
The rest of the emissions will be reduced by switching to alternative fuels. Nuclear power should make up a large part of this, but it should by no means be alone. Nuclear fission is a far cry from a clean source of energy. GHGs are emitted during the mining of Uranium, building the reactor itself produces more , and some of the waste is very unpleasant. Nuclear fission is in fact a very inelegant source of power. It does however produce far more energy per unit mass of fuel than fossil fuels, and despite its emissions, still releases a much smaller volume of GHGs than fossil fuel combustion.
Nuclear fission is the only source of power which is developed enough, and which would produce enough energy reliably, to replace fossil fuels. The difference is that while nuclear fission produces a quantity of nuclear waste, the sheer volume of GHGs emitted by fossil fuels is far more dangerous to our climate.
We will get over our irrational fears, but nuclear power is surrounded by a cloud of ignorance which will take time to lift. Perhaps we need an Intergovernmental Panel on Nuclear Power before anyone is convinced. The pro- and anti-nuclear lobbyists need to find some common ground: nuclear fission would be prominent, but it would not be permanent, being only an interim solution. Debates are needed, but the state of the climate is not dependent on good intentions. It is a sobering, if not terrifying, thought that the future of the Earth's climate could depend on something as transient as a popularity contest between two warring parties.
References
The code "WG1-TS" (standing for 'Working Group 1 - Technical Summary') will be used in place of the following to save repetition: Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, R.B. Alley, T. Berntsen, N.L. Bindoff, Z. Chen, A. Chidthaisong, J.M. Gregory, G.C. Hegerl, M. Heimann, B. Hewitson, B.J. Hoskins, F. Joos, J. Jouzel, V. Kattsov, U. Lohmann, T. Matsuno, M. Molina, N. Nicholls, J. Overpeck, G. Raga, V. Ramaswamy, J. Ren, M. Rusticucci, R. Somerville, T.F. Stocker, P. Whetton, R.A. Wood and D. Wratt, 2007: Technical Summary. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
The code "WG1-SPM" (standing for 'Working Group 1 - Summary for Policy Makers') will be used in place of the following to save repetition: IPCC, 2007: Summary for Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M.Tignor and H.L. Miller (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
[1] WG1-TS Page 81.
[2] WG1-SPM Page 13, Table SPM.3.
[3] "Reading Transport places UK's largest ever order for ethanol-powered buses", available at:
http://www.scania.co.uk/About_Scania...ng_Transport_p laces_UKs_largest_ever_order_for_ethanol_powered_b uses.asp, Chris Love, accessed 01/12/2007 - note: the text in quotation marks is a quote from the Reading buses themselves, and does not appear in the referenced article, Scania.
[4] WG1-TS Page 33, Table TS.2.
[5] "BWEA - Frequently Asked Questions", available at: BWEA - Frequently Asked Questions , see question "How much of the time do wind turbines generate electricity?", accessed 02/12/2007, British Wind Energy Association
[6] P. Norman, A. Worrall, K. Hesketh, Physics World, Vol 20, No 7, July 2007, page 25
[7] "Uranium Enrichment", available at: NRC: Uranium Enrichment , accessed 02/12/2007, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission
[8] "Plutonium", available at: Plutonium , accessed 02/12/2007, World Nuclear Association
[9] "Human Health Fact Sheet", available at: http://consolidationeis.doe.gov/PDFs...eetOct2001.pdf, US Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear Energy, accessed 04/12/2007
[10] "UK : The Contenders", available at: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | UK nuclear power: The contenders , accessed 04/12/2007, British Broadcasting Corporation
[11]"BWEA - Frequently Asked Questions", available at: BWEA - Frequently Asked Questions , see question "How much electricity does one wind turbine produce?", accessed 04/12/2007, British Wind Energy Association
[12] "IAEA deliberately downplays Chernobyl death toll to pave way for nuclear renaissance", available at: http://www.greenpeace.org/internatio...bylforumclosin gday , accessed 05/12/2007
[13] "About Greenpeace | Greenpeace International" available at: About Greenpeace | Greenpeace International , accessed 08/12/2007
[14] "Oil & Gas UK - Industry Issues - Gas - Index Page", available at: Oil & Gas UK - Industry Issues - Gas - Index Page , accessed 09/12/2007
[15] "BBC NEWS | Programmes | If | If... The Lights Go Out", available at BBC NEWS | Programmes | If | If... The Lights Go Out , accessed 09/12/2007, British Broadcasting Corporation
[16] Robert Davies, available at http://environment.newscientist.com/...s/mg19125693.7 00-nuclear-power-return-of-the-atom.html ,accessed 09/12/2007. Printed in New Scientist , 15 September 2006.
[17] Andrew Bloodworth, New Scientist, issue 2614 of New Scientist magazine, 28 July 2007, page 23, available at:
Uranium reserves - 28 July 2007 - New Scientist , accessed 11/12/2007
[18] "The ITER project", available at: The ITER project , ITER, accessed 11/12/2007
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