Compared to electricity generated by burning fossil fuels, nuclear energy is clean. Nuclear power plants produce no air pollution or carbon dioxide but a small amount of emissions result from processing the uranium that is used in nuclear reactors.
Like all industrial processes, nuclear power generation has by-product wastes: spent (used) fuels, other radioactive waste, and heat. Spent fuels and other radioactive wastes are the principal environmental concern for nuclear power.
Most nuclear waste is low-level radioactive waste. It consists of ordinary tools, protective clothing, wiping cloths and disposable items that have been contaminated with small amounts of radioactive dust or particles. These materials are subject to special regulation that governs their disposal so they will not come in contact with the outside environment.
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On the other hand, the spent fuel assemblies are highly radioactive and must initially be stored in specially designed pools resembling large swimming pools (water cools the fuel and acts as a radiation shield) or in specially designed dry storage containers.
An increasing number of reactor operators now store their older and less spent fuel in dry storage facilities using special outdoor concrete or steel containers with air cooling.
Uses of Energy:
We use a lot of energy in our homes, businesses, industry, and for travelling between all these different places.
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The industrial sector uses about one-third of the total energy. The residential and commercial sector combined use even more than this, i.e., 40% of total energy. These two sectors include all types of buildings such as houses, offices, stores, restaurants and place of worship.
Energy used for transportation accounts for more than a quarter of all energy.
Note:
Due to rounding, data may not sum to exactly 100 per cent in Fig. 4.23.