Question

(a) What are the advantages of nuclear energy?
(b) State the disadvantages of nuclear energy?

Answer 1

Hint: Nuclear energy is a clean and efficient way of boiling water to make steam, which turns turbines to produce electricity. Nuclear energy uses low-enriched uranium fuel to produce electricity through a process called fission - the splitting of uranium atoms in a nuclear reactor.

Complete step by step answer:
These are the following advantages of nuclear energy: -
1. After the initial cost of construction, nuclear energy has the advantage of being one of the most cost-effective energy solutions available. The cost of electricity from nuclear energy is much lower than the cost to produce energy from gas, coal, or oil unless those resources are located near the power plant they supply.
2. It is a reliable source of energy (While some energy sources are dependent upon weather conditions, like solar and wind power, nuclear energy has no such constraints).
3. The stable production of power created by nuclear power plants means that it can ideally be used in conjunction with other forms of renewable energy.
These are the disadvantages of nuclear energy: -
1. Despite being relatively inexpensive to operate, nuclear power plants are incredibly expensive to build—and the cost keeps rising.
2. Storage of radioactive waste is a major challenge facing nuclear power plants. Because there’s no way to destroy nuclear waste.
3. Nuclear power plants have a greater impact on the environment than just the waste they produce.

Note: There are also challenges when producing nuclear energy, including expense, safety, waste, security, and more. Learn more about the pros and cons of nuclear energy to better understand this energy source and how it might benefit our world in the future.