Nuclear Energy, A Let Down!

World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR) has recently released a report which stated that solar and wind energy plants are more sustainable compared to nuclear plants. In the past decade, the establishment cost of nuclear power plants increased by 23 per cent while there was 88 per cent installation cost decline for solar power plants and 69 per cent decline for wind power plants.

Hyderabad: Nuclear power, which was touted as the best alternative to conservative energy sources is slowly losing its charm. It is neither able to reduce carbon emissions nor could bring about environmental balance as expected. The amount of time needed to establish nuclear plants and an increase in their production costs are posing challenges to the fission energy. As a result, nations are moving away from nuclear power towards renewable sources of energy.

World Nuclear Industry Status Report (WNISR) has recently released a report asserting these views. It further added that solar and wind energy plants are more sustainable compared to nuclear plants.

It takes 10 years to build a nuclear power plant. In the grim times of rapid environmental destruction, several nations decided against waiting so long and rather increase the production of renewable energy sources.

In the past decade, the establishment cost of nuclear power plants increased by 23 per cent while there was 88 per cent installation cost decline for solar power plants and 69 per cent decline for wind power plants.

In 2018, China spent USD 9,100 crores on sustainable energy sources and only USD 650 crores on nuclear power. It is imperative to achieve environmental stability, but nuclear power is unable to attain it at a quicker pace.

Compared to inexhaustible sources like solar and wind energies, nuclear power does not fare any better in terms of pace or power in reducing carbon footprint.

(Reference: Mycle Schneider, WNISR)