The advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy

Advantages of nuclear energy

*Nuclear energy is clean. It does not release greenhouse gases which cause global warming and climate change. Fossil fuels like coal and oil produce greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide,methane and ozone. There nuclear energy is better than coal and oil when it comes to enviroment and climate concerns.
*Nuclear energy is the most efficient source of energy. Very small amounts of nuclear energy liberate large amounts of nuclear energy.
One gram of uranium-235 produces as much energy as 10 000 grams of coal.
Each nuclear fission reaction produces about 100 million times the energy produces other combustion reactions.
Nuclear energy produces about a million times the energy produces by hydroelectric sources
*The burning of fossil fuels e.g coal produces poisonous gases like carbon monoxide and sulphur. These gases harm the environment as well as humans.
*It is easy to transport
*Nuclear reactions produce radioisotopes like cobalt-60 which has medical and industrial uses.

Disadvantages of nuclear energy

*One of the by products of nuclear fission, plutonium is a raw material used for the production of nuclear bombs. So weapons of mass destruction and nuclear proliferation are a major threat to the world.
*It requires large capital costs to build a single plant
*Requires high level of waste storage. The nuclear fission waste products contain unstable radioactive elements. This waste is harmful to health