From 0f8fbf09d37ecb0aea8fc1b391f91f37dd7e0c57 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Nate B <43703496+NB419@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Thu, 28 May 2020 20:40:24 -0400 Subject: [PATCH] Create nuclear_energy.md --- renewable_energy/nuclear_energy.md | 35 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 35 insertions(+) create mode 100644 renewable_energy/nuclear_energy.md diff --git a/renewable_energy/nuclear_energy.md b/renewable_energy/nuclear_energy.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..974942f --- /dev/null +++ b/renewable_energy/nuclear_energy.md @@ -0,0 +1,35 @@ +## Nuclear Energy + +#### Nuclear energy, already deployed widely with a variety of purposes, is safe, saves lives, and reduces pollution** + + + +* [Kharecha and Hansen 13](https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es3051197?source=cen) + * Global nuclear power has prevented: + * **1.84 million deaths** related to air pollution + * **64 gigatonnes of CO2 emissions** that would have resulted from fossil fuel burning + * On the basis of global projection data that take into account the effects of the Fukushima accident, nuclear power could, by midcentury, additionally prevent: + * an average of **4.2 hundred thousand to 7.04 million deaths** + * **80 to 240 gigatonnes CO2 emissions** due to fossil fuels +* [World Nuclear Association 19](https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/nuclear-power-in-the-world-today.aspx) + * Nuclear energy now provides about **10% of the world's electricity** from about **450 power reactors**. + * Over **50 countries** utilise nuclear energy in about 225 research reactors. + * These reactors are used for the production of medical and industrial isotopes, as well as for training. +* [Center for Nuclear Science and Technology Information](http://nuclearconnect.org/know-nuclear/applications/energy) of the American Nuclear Society + * Pollution prevented from being released into the atmosphere: + * 5.1 million tons of sulfur dioxide + * 2.4 million tons of nitrogen oxide + * 164 million metric tons of carbon + * Material Cost — one kg of Uranium is the approximate equivalent of: + * 42 gallons of oil + * 1 ton of coal + * 17,000 cubic feet of natural gas + * Monetary Cost: + * Nuclear plants: 2.40 cents per kilowatt-hour + * Coal-fired plants: 3.27 cents + * Oil: 22.48 cents + * Gas: 3.40 cents + * Efficiency + * Nuclear power plant capacity factors: over 85%. + * Fossil fired plants: 50-60% + * Solar and wind: 30% or lower