generalspeaking

Nuclear Energy and C02

Radiation in soil around the site of the Fukushima nuclear plant is soaring, approximating the "dead zone" of Chernobyl. Radiation, it would appear has spread over 600 square kilometres, from the most recent report of contamination. Tetsuya Terasawa, spokesman for Tokyo Electric explained that the radiation levels are similar to those found after a nuclear bomb test. Well, obviously, since three of the five reactors had exploded, after all.

And we're brought up to date by the International Energy Agency which has related that "Energy-related carbon dioxide (C02) emissions in 2010 were the highest in history. This significant increase in C02 emissions and the locking in of future investments represent a serious setback to our hopes of limiting the global rise in temperature to no more than 2.0C (3.6F)."

Reliance on coal-fired and gas-fired energy and wind-sourced and solar energy is rising and will continue to rise. And carbon emissions will follow that trend upward. Nuclear reactors of newer design with better safety features are coming on line in various parts of the world, although many countries have suffered a conscious set-back of insecurity in their plans for a nuclear future.

Nuclear-powered energy, however, is clean, and non-carbon emitting. It is dependable and capable of delivering energy when it is needed at rates that are needed, and it is less costly than other sources. The key watchword is caution and exacting design and specifications for safety taking into account all possible scenarios, attention to which the Tokyo Electric executives gave famously short shrift.

Now here is the fourth largest economy in the world suddenly announcing its politically-motivated decision to bypass nuclear energy; to take out of commission and mothball all its nuclear installations. Ironically, Germany is a country where the Greens are front and centre in environmental activism, and how a clean, reliable energy source gets a failing mark is a mystery.

France will remain dedicated to extracting a major portion of its energy requirements from ongoing and newly-installed nuclear facilities. And it will be more than happy to sell their energy to Germany. Germany will accept nuclear-based energy as long as it is sourced elsewhere than within the country; let others take the risk, not them.

Labels: Economy, Energy, Environment, Germany, Political Realities

posted by Pieface @ Tuesday, May 31, 2011