In a significant move at the COP28 Climate Summit in the United Arab Emirates, over 20 countries, including the United States, declared their intention to triple nuclear energy production. Nuclear Energy’s Resurgence at Climate Summit.
This declaration marks a pivotal shift in the perception of nuclear power, long shadowed by the “Fukushima Phobia” following the disaster in Japan. Nuclear energy, known for its role in reducing emissions from traditional energy sources, is witnessing a renaissance as countries seek sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Nuclear power, deriving energy from nuclear reactions, primarily uses heat to produce steam, which in turn powers turbines connected to generators for electricity production. However, this technology has faced significant opposition from environmental groups and public skepticism, heightened by concerns over safety and nuclear waste disposal. The Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, in particular, has been a focal point of these fears.
The environmental group “350,” a global organization addressing the climate crisis, highlighted the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster as a stark reminder of the risks associated with nuclear energy. Jeff Ordour, the group’s North American director, emphasized the urgency of investing in safe renewable energy alternatives, cautioning against the dangers of nuclear power as a diversion from more sustainable solutions.
Yousry Abou Shadi, former chief inspector of the International Atomic Energy Agency, acknowledges these concerns but points to advanced safety technologies in modern nuclear plants that have mitigated these risks, moving beyond the justifications used to reject nuclear power post-Fukushima.
The Fukushima incident in 2011, caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan, was not the most severe nuclear disaster but remains a significant reference point due to its recent occurrence. In contrast, the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine, resulting from flawed reactor design and human error, was significantly more catastrophic, releasing large amounts of radioactive material into the atmosphere. Additionally, the 1979 Three Mile Island incident in the United States involved partial reactor meltdown due to mechanical and human errors, along with design flaws.
Abou Shadi outlines several measures that have significantly enhanced nuclear reactor safety:
- Improved Automation: Reducing human error by minimizing manual intervention and aiding operators in better control and monitoring.
- Reactor Core Traps: Designed to capture or contain specific materials or particles within the reactor core, preventing the release of radioactive materials.
- Passive Safety Systems: Utilizing natural processes like gravity for cooling, independent of active pumping or power sources.
- Transition to Light Water Reactors: Replacing graphite-moderated reactors (like Chernobyl’s) with light water reactors, which use ordinary water as a coolant and neutron moderator, offering inherently safer designs.
Despite high safety standards, Magdy Allam, Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Environmental Experts and advisor to the Global Environmental Facility, notes that increasing investments in nuclear energy do not necessarily imply complete reassurance over previous disasters like Fukushima. He underscores that the growing interest in nuclear power reflects a complex mix of climate change concerns, energy needs, and economic considerations.
Nuclear power plants generate electricity without emitting carbon dioxide during operation, unlike fossil fuel-based plants that release significant greenhouse gases. This makes nuclear reactors an attractive option for reducing global warming emissions while meeting energy demands.
[Website: dzwatch.net], Nuclear Energy’s Resurgence at Climate Summit.
