Nuclear Power Statistics Currently 439 nuclear power reactors in 31 countries Combined capacity of 354 gigawatts Provide 17% of world’s electricity Currently 32 reactors under construction in 10 countries Most planned reactors in Asia and parts of former Soviet Union Electrical Generation in the US

Nuclear Power Plants in North America

The Nature of Nuclear Energy Radioactive elements Nuclei of certain atoms are unstable and spontaneously decompose Only certain kinds of atoms are suitable for development of a nuclear chain reaction The two most common are Uranium-235 and Plutonium-239

Nuclear Power Concerns Accidents have raised questions about safety Type and degree of damage vary with Radiation form Dosage and duration of exposure Type of cells irradiated Because mutations are permanent, radiation effects may build up over years and only appear later in life Contamination and disposal problems Plants may be terrorist targets Spent fuel storage facilities have more total radioactivity than the reactor

Thermal Pollution Addition of waste heat to the environment

End of the Fossil Fuel Era? Most likely. Time to look at alternative energy sources: Wind Solar Tidal Geothermal Hydroelectric Nuclear

Wind Produces no air pollution. Harnessing the wind is dependent on weather and location. Normal wind velocity on Earth is approximately 9 miles/hour.

Wind Potentially infinite energy supply. Advantages Disadvantage Potentially infinite energy supply. Can be found singularly or in wind farms. Wind turbines can be costly. Visually unattractive to viewers. Can interfere with flying wildlife.

Solar Most resourceful source of energy for the future. Why? The total energy Earth receives each year from the sun is around 35,000 times the total energy used by man.

Solar Potentially infinite energy supply. Advantages Disadvantages Potentially infinite energy supply. Individuals can have their own electricity supply. Solar panels can be costly. Only works during the day.

Geothermal Energy is obtained from the internal heat within Earth and is used to generate steam to run a steam turbine thus generating electricity.

Geothermal Potentially infinite energy supply. Advantages Disadvantages Potentially infinite energy supply. Successfully used in countries such as New Zealand and Iceland Can be costly to set up and only works in volcanic activity. Dangerous elements underground must be properly disposed of.