Why not invest in nuclear?
Cancer risk
Barriers to and risks associated with an increasing use of nuclear energy include operational risks and the associated safety concerns, uranium mining risks, financial and regulatory risks, unresolved waste management issues, nuclear weapons proliferation concerns, and adverse public opinion.
A major environmental concern related to nuclear power is the creation of radioactive wastes such as uranium mill tailings, spent (used) reactor fuel, and other radioactive wastes. These materials can remain radioactive and dangerous to human health for thousands of years.
Major barriers include the high cost of building nuclear power plants, the time required to develop robust legal and regulatory frameworks, the long-term commitment required, establishing a sustainable safety and non-proliferation culture, small grid sizes and lack of interconnections, and lack of human resources ...
- Expensive Initial Cost to Build. Construction of a new nuclear plant can take anywhere from 5-10 years to build, costing billions of dollars. ...
- Risk of Accident. ...
- Radioactive Waste. ...
- Limited Fuel Supply. ...
- Impact on the Environment.
Nuclear energy stocks “have become far more compelling to many investors in recent years,” and “there are good reasons to support this carbon-free source of energy,” according to investment entrepreneur and financial lecturer Jason Hall.
- High Environmental Impact. Perhaps one of the most attractive aspects of nuclear power is that an operating plant emits no carbon. ...
- Non-Renewable Fuel Source. ...
- Problems With Storing Waste. ...
- Intensive Water Consumption. ...
- Risk Of Catastrophe.
Disadvantages of nuclear energy:
Nuclear power generates waste from the material used and there are concerns about possible accidents or leaks, since uranium is not a renewable source, at least not for now. One of the drawbacks of this material is its high radioactivity, as well as having a very long half life.
Most of this waste is stored in tanks at 3 DOE sites. According to federal law, certain high-level mixed waste must be vitrified—a process in which the waste is immobilized in glass—and disposed of in a deep geologic repository.
The use of nuclear energy for electricity generation can be considered extremely safe. Every year several hundred people die in coal mines to provide this widely used fuel for electricity. There are also significant health and environmental effects arising from fossil fuel use.
What are the 5 advantages and 5 disadvantages of nuclear energy?
| Pros Of Nuclear Energy | Cons Of Nuclear Energy |
|---|---|
| Carbon-free electricity | Uranium is technically non-renewable |
| Small land footprint | Very high upfront costs |
| High power output | Nuclear waste |
| Reliable energy source | Malfunctions can be catastrophic |
The last of Japan's fifty-four reactors (Tomari-3) went offline for maintenance on 5 May 2012, leaving Japan completely without nuclear-produced electrical power for the first time since 1970. Problems in stabilizing the triple reactor meltdowns at f*ckushima I nuclear plant hardened attitudes toward nuclear power.
Nuclear power in the United States is expected to decline further in 2021, with five reactors scheduled to be retired during the year, leaving output more than 4% below 2019 levels. The anticipated declines in the United States in 2021 offset increases in other advanced economies.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Low-cost energy | Environmental impact |
| Reliable power source | Water intensive |
| Zero-carbon emissions | Risk of nuclear accidents |
| Promising energy future | Radioactive waste |
Inhaling large concentrations of uranium can cause lung cancer from the exposure to alpha particles. Uranium is also a toxic chemical, meaning that ingestion of uranium can cause kidney damage from its chemical properties much sooner than its radioactive properties would cause cancers of the bone or liver.
- Raw material. Safety measures needed to prevent the harmful levels of radiation from uranium.
- Fuel Availability. ...
- High Cost. ...
- Nuclear Waste. ...
- Risk of Shutdown Reactors. ...
- Impact on Human Life. ...
- Nuclear Power a Non Renewable Resource. ...
- National Risks.
Global X Uranium ETF (URA)
The Global X Uranium ETF invests in companies involved in uranium mining and nuclear industry component production. With $3 billion in total assets and a 12-month trailing yield of 5.5%, URA is doing well in its category in 2024 with a year-to-date gain of 13.8%.
- One of the main disadvantages of nuclear energy is that nuclear explosions produce radiation, this radiation harms the cells of the body which can make humans sick or even cause them death. Illness can appear or strike people years after they were exposed to nuclear radiation.
Funded by President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the $6 billion CNC program supports the continued operations of safe and reliable nuclear energy facilities, preserving thousands of good-paying clean energy jobs while avoiding carbon emissions.
There are around 40 trillion tons of uranium in Earth's crust, but most is distributed at trace concentration over its 3×1019 ton mass. Estimates of the amount concentrated into ores affordable to extract for under $130 per kg can be less than a millionth of that total.
What is the future of nuclear energy?
US Energy Information Administration
Nuclear generation is projected to increase by 15% during this period, but relative to total generation, the share of nuclear generation would fall by one-third from 10.5% of total electricity generation in 2020 to 7.2% in 2050.
Direct disposal
The used fuel is placed in canisters which, in turn, are placed in tunnels and subsequently sealed with rocks and clay. The waste from recycling – the so-called fission products – will also be placed in the repository.
Uranium is a common metal found in rocks all over the world. Uranium occurs in combination with small amounts of other elements. Economically recoverable uranium reserves are located in the western United States, Australia, Canada, Central Asia, Africa, and South America.
The anti-nuclear movement is a social movement which operates at the local, national, and international level. Various types of groups have identified themselves with the movement: direct action groups, such as the Clamshell Alliance and Shad Alliance. environmental groups, such as Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace.
Radioactive materials can also get inside the body if people breathe it in, or eat or drink something that is contaminated. People living close to the nuclear power plant who are exposed to radiation could experience long-term health effects such as cancer.
