SUMMATIVE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY

SUMMATIVE FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear energy has been developed and used commercially for about two decades to meet a fraction of the electrical energy needs (El-Hinnawi, 1987). Nuclear power plants use uranium fuel, which consist of solid ceramic pellets to produce electricity while Alia Farhana (2009) claimed that, the examples of mix energy included natural gas, coal, oil, hydroelectric and renewable energy. Bad consequences due to nuclear energy usage can be obviously seen when it compared to mix or renewable energy in generating electricity especially in environment aspects. According to El-Hinnawi (1987), non-nuclear wastes and pollutants affect man and his environment and some may have genetic effects but in the case of radioactive wastes, the damage would be more potential and not easily reparable. In the other words, the use of mix energy and renewable energy in generating electricity are definitely more secure and safer than nuclear energy.

In the term of water usage in environmental aspect, the critical difference between the use of mix energy and the nuclear energy can be seen. According to El-Hinnawi (1987), the use of nuclear energy can invite environmental problem when the water associated with uranium mining and cause river pollution or occupational health hazards. Meanwhile, in contrast, the use of mix energy or renewable source in hydroelectric brings more benefits to the environment. Alia Farhana (2009) illustrated that hydropower dams can generate electricity that is clean and renewable and can be used as a long term electricity generator. Nuclear energy produces electricity from a radioactive substance in a nuclear reactor while hydroelectric does not produce any harmful water or cause water pollution.

Next, the differences between nuclear and mix energy also can be observed by surrounding tiny and invisible particles. El-Hinnawi described the emission of radioactive particles to the air. For the example, radioactive particles will release noble gases, activation gases, tritium vapour, gas and halogens during the emission of nuclear reactor operation. Even though the burning of fossil fuel, one of the source of mix energy, release gaseous emission and cause green house effect, but the security of the use of nuclear energy is more dangerous. El-Hinnawi also concluded that the public are concern about the reactor operation which has concentrated on the possibility of the occurrence of accident due to the release of radioactivity to surrounding environment. Thus, in energy generating industries, the use of nuclear  energy should not be taking into consideration.