Article 5: Small reactors could make nuclear energy big again. How do they work, and are they safe?

Bocca , R. (2022, October 6). Small reactors could make nuclear energy big again. How do they work, and are they safe?World Economic Forum . Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/10/nuclear-power-power-plant-smrs-clean-energy/ 

In this report by Bocca he discusses once again the miniaturization of nuclear reactors and how this may have an effect on the energy grid in the future. He brings up how fear due to the catastrophes at Chernobyl and Fukushima as well as the association with nuclear weapons has led to a great amount of distaste with nuclear as a whole, and that plants are beginning to be shuttered fast then they can be built. Bocca then provides the benefits of continued operation and creation of these plants, and how the smaller scale may alleviate fears of a catastrophe. 

This once again shows how it is necessary for the creation of a positive image around nuclear energy in order for it to be seriously considered in the future of clean energy, and with no deaths from pollution caused by emissions, nuclear power increasingly looks like the most beneficial option, at least economically until further research can be put into nuclear energy. 

Article 4: Nuclear Resurgence 

Lloyd , J. (2023, December). Nuclear Resurgence . Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/fandd/issues/2022/12/nuclear-resurgence-nordhaus-lloyd 

This writing discusses the victories for nuclear energy in 2022 with there being a large uptick in the amount of reactors built in the United States as well as the war in Ukraine bringing up the large weakness of relying on fossil fuels as a primary means of both transportation and electricity, especially in Europe compared to the United States. Additionally, the Article also discusses the possibility of providing more power in the US with nuclear, citing both benefits and drawbacks, such as the 18 month refueling.

 

This piece shows some of the influences from outside sources can definitely disrupt the oil trade and how it is not safe nor economically viable for a continued reliance on oil, especially with OPEC controlling such vast swaths of wells in the middle east it would be a national catastrophe if the United States was to be isolated from the main source of its power, with the war in Ukraines gas prices being hugely larger highlighting this, as well as sending inflation out of control. 

Article 3: First Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Certified in US 

Houser, K. (2023, January 25). First small modular nuclear reactor certified in US. Freethink. Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.freethink.com/energy/small-modular-nuclear-reactor 

 This article discusses the creation of a miniaturized nuclear reactor by company NuScale, and how it is believed that miniaturization and modularity for nuclear reactors is the way to go, following the footsteps of the French set. These miniaturized reactors would be set up in groups of around 12 depending on the location, and more or less could be added based on necessity. The article then details the process of miniaturizing the reactor and the various feats necessary for such. 

This relates to the environment as if research further into miniaturization continues we may be able to achieve the 1950s dream of miniaturized nuclear reactors powering a lot of our day to day existence, and it is not out of the realm of possibility for an updated version of these reactors being able to be set up as a backup for a localized grid. 

Article 2:  Molten Salt Reactors Could Be Future of Nuclear Energy 

Houser , K. (2022, October 30). Molten Salt Reactors Could Be Future of Nuclear Energy . Freethink . Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.freethink.com/energy/molten-salt-reactor-52913 

This article discusses the viability of a molten salt reactor, which is a type of nuclear reactor that can be fueled by Thorium (90) and would be contained via molten salt, which would release heat that turns a turbine which powers a generator which creates electricity. This is very similar to a nuclear power plant, with the added benefit of the construction predicted to be much cheaper and the plant to be constructed much more quickly. It also details the safety features built into the plant, which include the benefits of the salt acting as a containment agent in case the plant ever went super critical. 

This is important to environmental science as it may very well be the future of nuclear power, as with the increase in plants being shuttered across the US for no good reason, it brings up the question of furthering research into nuclear and thorium power in the meanwhile, before renewables can fully replace an energy grid. Additionally, the dissociation with the stigma of nuclear weapons and disasters will further the argument for thorium as the poster child of an energy renaissance. 

Article 1: A New Era For Nuclear Energy Post Inflation Reduction Act 

Lighty, R. K., & Gibbs , K. (2022, December 21). A new era for nuclear energy post Inflation Reduction Act. reuters . Retrieved January 27, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/new-era-nuclear-energy-post-inflation-reduction-act-2022-12-21/ 

This article speaks about how the Inflation Reduction Act may impact nuclear power within the United States, detailing several locations, such as Wyoming. Additionally, it also brings up that a large amount of corporations are looking into nuclear power, as well as moving to investing great time and energy due to the amount of issues with coal plants. It then goes on to detail how the US’s ambitious climate reduction goals will only be able to be met realistically by nuclear powers and the benefits it brings. 

This highlights a key flaw in current energy grid plans as it discusses realistically the likelihood of the United States being capable of meeting its goal of net zero by 2050, and how Nuclear power may be the only way to reach it, however many flaws it may have. Additionally, it talks about the economic incentives of nuclear power, such as converting old coal plants to nuclear in order to save cost and time in building entirely new infrastructure, as well as providing a clear economic incentive to further research and build nuclear power plants. This relates to APES as less carbon emissions is always a good thing 

Article 5 “Climate Change is Shifting State Views on Nuclear Power” 

 

Citation: Brown , A. (2022, June 15). Climate change is shifting state views on nuclear powerA. The Pew Charitable Trusts. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2022/06/15/climate-change-is-shifting-state-views-on-nuclear-power 

 

Summary: 

 

This article talks about the push for Nuclear Power and continuing to keep older nuclear power plants running in order to have a stopgap for renewable energy, because it takes more time and resources to create renewable energy as opposed to the nuclear power grid. The article then quotes several different politicians’ views on nuclear energy and how a majority of them believe that nuclear energy is the lesser of two evils. They then go on to talk about how people are incredibly fearful of nuclear energy, and how that is unjustified. 

 

Relevance: 

 

This article is relevant to environmental science as it discusses the uses of nuclear power in order to slow down progression of climate change as a “stop gap” while there’s a further transition towards renewable energy. It also talks about how some groups are against nuclear reactors because of the waste they cause and claims that they slow down implementation of renewable energy. I think these people are dumb.

Article 4: “Enriching uranium is the key factor in how quickly Iran could produce a nuclear weapon – here’s where it stands today” 

 

Citation: Samore Professor of the Practice of Politics and Crown Family Director of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies, G. (2022, July 15). Enriching uranium is the key factor in how quickly Iran could produce a nuclear weapon – here’s where it stands today. The Conversation. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://theconversation.com/enriching-uranium-is-the-key-factor-in-how-quickly-iran-could-produce-a-nuclear-weapon-heres-where-it-stands-today-186985 

Summary:
 

The article details the progression of Iran’s nuclear program following the 2015 Nuclear Deal, a deal that is summarized in allowance of Iran to work on enriching uranium in exchange for no longer being internationally sanctioned. The article then discusses the enrichment process, as well as the different types of machines and the most viable Isotopes for both nuclear energy and warheads. The article discusses how the Iranians recently disabled the cameras installed to be monitored by the nations of the deal, and how they have not created 90% enriched uranium, which the author theorizes is due to fear of retaliation by Western Nations either with sanctions or a full-scale invasion of Iran. 

Article 3 “Nuclear Power Today” 

 

Citation: World Nuclear . (2022, July). Javascript required! Nuclear Power Today | Nuclear Energy – World Nuclear Association. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today.aspx 

 

Summary: 

 

This article begins by describing the nuclear fission process and the history of Nuclear Reactors first being used to produce waste for use in atomic and nuclear warheads, then transitioning into industrial uses in the 1960s in both the Western World and the Eastern Bloc. It then describes how now with the end of the Cold War and Globalization it has resulted in the process of getting enriched uranium has made it that most countries source different parts of the product globally, from South Korea to Australia. It then goes on to describe the percentages in energy gained in countries containing nuclear reactors. 

 

Relevance: 

 

This article is relevant to Environmental Science as it shows the power distribution across nations with how many nuclear power plants each nation has along with the percentage of its overall energy production and reliance on nuclear energy. It then talks about other reactors, such as those that produce nuclear isotopes used in the medical industry, as well as nuclear powered aircraft carriers, submarines, and icebreakers.

Article 2 “Nuclear Energy”

 

Citation: National Geographic . (2022, July 1). Nuclear energy. National Geographic Society. Retrieved August 3, 2022, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/nuclear-energy 

 

Summary:

 

This article describes the process of how a nuclear reactor works, by first establishing that the nucleus of an atom is densely packed with energy in order to keep the electrons stable and in orbit. When the atom is split, it causes a chain reaction, which releases much heat, usually into water, which then creates steam, which powers a turbine within the plant to create electricity. It then states that in 2011, that 15% of the world’s electricity, and the US’s total of over 100 nuclear plants spanning the country, and how countries like Lithuania and France and Slovakia rely mostly on Nuclear Power. It then continues on to describe how a majority of Uranium is sourced from Russia, Kazakhstan, Australia, and Canada. 

 

Relevance: 

 

This article is relevant because it describes the process of how Nuclear fission works and the economic aspects of Nuclear Energy and the disasters that staind its reputation. It then goes on to describe how Uranium is purchased and traded and how only certain countries may purchase uranium due to its use in nuclear weapons. 

Article 1: “Why Nuclear Energy is on the Verge of a Renaissance” 

 

Citation: Clifford , C. (2022, June 7). Why nuclear energy is on the verge of a Renaissance. CNBC. Retrieved July 26, 2022, from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/07/why-nuclear-energy-is-on-the-verge-of-a-renaissance.html 

 

Summary: 

 

This article is written by Catherine Clifford and is about how Nuclear Power has been feared by the American public and the world at large due to several incidents throughout the late 20th and early 21st century, and how with Nuclear energy’s ecological benefits through no Carbon emissions, it may experience a renaissance in the coming decades as global warming continually progresses into a dangerous level. Clifford states that due to nuclear energy’s obvious benefits and advancements since 2011, there should be a push to make nuclear power more viable through tax benefits for companies that switch to nuclear and other incentives. This along with new innovation such as thorium reactors and better safety protocols will make Nuclear Energy much safer. 

 

Relevance: 

 

This article is relevant to Environmental Science because it describes modern nuclear reactors and disasters and how they have affected the several countries views on Nuclear Power’s viability and safety, and how new and improved safety protocol and advancements within the field of nuclear science allow for a much safer and more environmentally friendly future, as spent uranium may be much more concentrated and seem more deadly than CO2, the increases in natural disaster and famine are much more of a concern then the rods which will be sealed in places like Yucca Mountain.