Thermal Vs Nuclear Energy Essay

Some advantages to using geothermal energy are: potentially an unlimited supply; does little damage to the environment; does not produce air pollution; does not require any additional structures (solar panels or windmills) to collect the energy; and it does not need to be transported to the power plant. The major disadvantages to using geothermal energy is the need to dig deep below the surface causing damage to the soil when drilling test wells, availability is limited; and there is not much power per vent. This type of energy source would only be available in the Philippines, Indonesia, Mexico, countries of Central and South America, countries in eastern Africa and in eastern Europe, Italy, Iceland, New Zealand, Japan, France and very few places in the United States, mostly in California and Nevada (www.altenergy.org).

•     Waste from nuclear energy stays radioactive for thousands of years. Great care has to be taken in storing this waste safely.

The two sources of energy, coal and nuclear, were compared using the Analysis of Energy Sources table. Each energy source had a timeline broken down into four quarters with categories analyzing fuel needed (coal/uranium), CO2emissions, sulfur dioxide and other emissions, radioactivity, solid waste, and accidents. Radioactivity was noted indicating coal plants release 100 times more radiation than nuclear power plants because of the natural ingredients already in the coal.

Summary: In this paper I will discuss the overall of nuclear energy to rectify some misconception. I will give the advantages and disadvantages for using nuclear energy and let the readers understand the basic idea of it.

Throughout this world, we use various equipment that need certain energy requirements in order for them to run properly. Two of the utmost imperative sources of energy in our world today come from coal and nuclear power. Still, a great deal of citizens of this world are unaware of the impacts of nuclear power whether it be positive or negative due to the fact that nuclear power has not existed as long as coal power has. However, as nuclear power becomes a major resource of energy, we as citizens must determine which is more fitting for not only us, but our environment. As this report continues on, you will come to find the history of each of these resources along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Concluded from this research was the concept that nuclear power is worthier for America as a whole. Included below are the specific points as to why nuclear power is far superior for American citizens and our environment. However, the main notion to be taken from this report is the view that we need to become further educated on the energy resources present in this world and be able to determine how we can become more efficient and contribute less to climate change in the long run.

Nuclear energy is the energy released by a nuclear reaction (fission, fusion). In nuclear energy, the water is turned into steam, which in turn drives turbine generators to produce electricity. This can be dangerous! Some of the major disadvantages include radiations, radioactive waste that would be produced and accidents that can occur in nuclear reactors.

The first advantage of nuclear energy is that it is one of the cleanest sources of energy available to us now. The process of fission doesn’t emit any greenhouse gases or emissions that are linked to global warming. Nuclear energy is currently the largest clean air energy source. It currently occupies 63.3 percent of the emission free electricity in the United States, and this must continue to get expanded upon. With increased use of nuclear energy comes a decreased use in fossil fuels, which would result in a lower carbon footprint for the U.S. This would help slow down the impact of global warming and climate change.

Moreover, the author continues citing the benefits of geothermal energy. An evident point mentioned in the article is that geothermal energy is a clean, renewable, and dependable energy that can run 24 hours a day, all year round. The author moves forward to mention other real life examples of countries that adopted the usage of geothermal energy. Countries such as the United States, New Zealand, Italy, Iceland, japan, Mexico,and Indonesia are using this kind of energy right now which is so important to prove his argument as real usage applications are

The advantage of of Nuclear Power is that it doesn’t depend on fossil fuels and is not affected by the erratic oil and gas prices. Coal and natural gas in other power plants emit carbon dioxide, whereas nuclear power plants emit minimal carbon dioxide. Nuclear fission produces a million times more energy per unit weight than fossil fuel alternatives.

4. Geothermal energy is the heat from the Earth. It's clean and sustainable. Resources of geothermal energy range from the shallow ground to hot water and hot rock found a few miles beneath the Earth's surface. Pros: 1. Renewable 2. Efficient 3. Easy transportation Cons: 1.Lots of water needed 2. Electricity is still needed. 3. Unlimited Steam Not Guaranteed

In spite of the downsides, nuclear power has many advantages. First of all, nuclear energy is more efficient than fossil fuels. It also does not rely on weather conditions like most renewable energy. Along with its efficiency, nuclear power plants have low operating costs. Finally, while nuclear power does produce radioactive waste, its greenhouse gas emissions are significantly lower than

In the following, the benefits and drawbacks of generating electricity with the use of nuclear energy will be discussed.

Pollution is another topic with both pros and cons. Fossil fuels release harmful pollutants into the air such as carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Nuclear power does not release any of those toxins into the atmosphere. However, a pollution problem with nuclear energy is thermal pollution, where a plant’s “hot effluents” are put into a nearby body of water, and raise the temperature by a small amount but enough to cause a disturbance in the ecosystem of the lake or reservoir. Nevertheless, this could easily be solved by cooling the effluents before releasing them into the water. The other problem facing nuclear energy is waste disposal. Nuclear waste is radioactive and very dangerous. Therefore, it must be kept buried and sealed up for a long period of time until the radioactivity dies [Plasma-Material]. One positive fact about nuclear energy that is not disputed is its abundance.

As each year passes, more and more electricity will be made as a result of increased nuclear power plants around the world. The economic benefits of nuclear energy are equally advantageous as the environmental aspects.

The world's natural resources are being consumed at an alarming rate. As these resources diminish, people will be seeking alternative sources by which to generate electricity for heat and light. The only practical short-term solution for the energy/pollution crisis should be nuclear power because it is available, cleaner and safer.