CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that SIKANDER ALI KHAN student of class

12th SCIENCE-C has completed the project on
“Is Nuclear Energy a Safe Alternative to Fossil Fuels?”
He has taken proper care and utmost sincerity in completion of his work.
All the work related to this project was done by the candidate himself
Under the guidance of Mrs. GHAZALA SIDDIQI During the year 2023-24
This approach towards the subject has been sincere

Teacher’s Signature

……………………

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 ACKNOWLEGDMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of gratitude to my teacher

Mrs. GHAZALA SIDDIQI, who gave me the golden opportunity to do
This Wonderful project of English on
“Is Nuclear energy a safe alternative to fossil Fuels?”
I came to know about so many new things. I would like to thank my
Parents and friends who also helped me a lot in finalizing this project
Within the limited time frame.

Sikander Ali Khan

XIIth Science- C

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 ABSTRACT

This project report entitled to “Is Nuclear Energy a Safe Alternative to Fossil
Fuels?” The main objective of the study is to analyze that can nuclear energy replace fossil
fuels. The details regarding the history, uses, advantages & disadvantages of nuclear energy
and fossil fuels were collected through research.

The various Charts and tables are used for better understanding. Through the ratio analysis
we could understand harmful effects of burning of fossil fuels in large amount like climate
change, pollution and burning them also causes some serious health issues like early death,
heart attacks, respiratory disorders, stroke, and asthma. When they are burnt they produce
some poisonous gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and
greenhouse gas.

The study recommends to reducing the use of fossil fuels because they are harming our
environment and this study also recommends increasing the use of nuclear energy because
they are safer for the environment and they are less harming to humans.

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 SYNOPSIS

Is Nuclear Energy a Safe Alternative to Fossil Fuels?

Statement of the problem and Hypothesis: From the electricity that lights our
homes to the cars we drive to work, modern life is fully dependent on fossil fuels like coal,
oil and natural gas. But burning them creates climate change, pollution and burning of fossil
fuels produces harmful substances, pollutants that lead to early death, heart attacks,
respiratory disorders, stroke, and asthma. It has also been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.

When fossil fuels are burned, they release large amounts of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides,
carbon monoxide, and greenhouse gas, into the air. Greenhouse gases trap heat in our
atmosphere, causing global warming. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) has found that emissions from fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming.

Aims and Objectives: We should reduces the use of fossil fuels because excessive use of
fossil fuel or burning of fossil fuel in such a high amount produces a huge number of toxic
gasses which are injurious to our health and to our atmosphere and can cause some very
dangerous disease, and can become the cause of painful deaths.

Our aim should be clear to control excessive use of fossil fuels and to reduce our dependence
on these non- renewable energy sources which are harming our lives and our ecosystem.
There are some alternatives of fossil fuel which are not harmful to our health and also are
renewable source of energy like Wind, Water, and Heat from (Sun) but these sources of
energy are not available round the clock and are not very efficient and initially they costs
very high and requires a lot of space. That’s why they are not the best sources of energy.

We should have to look around on some other sources of energy like, Nuclear energy.
Nuclear energy is a zero-emission clean energy source. It generates power through fission, by
the process of Splitting Uranium Atoms to produce energy. Then heat produced by this
process of fission is used to create steam that spins a turbine to generate electricity without
producing harmful byproducts unlike fossil fuels.

Despite producing massive amounts of carbon-free power, nuclear energy also produces more
electricity on less land than any other clean-energy source.

Review of literature: According to the Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), the United States
avoided more than 471 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2020. That’s the
equivalent of removing 100 million cars from the road and more than all other clean energy
sources combined.

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A typical 1,000-megawatt nuclear facility in the United States needs a little more than 1
square mile to operate. (NEI) says wind farms require 360 times more land area to produce
the same amount of electricity and solar photovoltaic plants require 75 times more space.

To put that in perspective, you would need more than 3 million solar panels to produce the
same amount of power as a typical commercial reactor or more than 430 wind turbines

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that emissions from fossil
fuels are the dominant cause of global warming.

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 Table of Contents

CERTIFICATE……………………………………………………………………………... 1

ACKNOWLEGDMENT……………………………………………………………………. 2

ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………………………. 3

SYNOPSIS………………………………………………………………………………....... 4

TABLE OF CONTENT…………………………………………………………………….. 6

CHAPTER

I. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………... 7

Purpose of the research……………………………………………………………….7

Research Methodology……………………………………………………………….7

II. TITLE OF CHAPTERS

FOSSIL FUELS……………………………………………………………………….8

DISADVANTAGES OF FOSSIL FUELS ………………………………………….11

NUCLEAR ENERGY………………………………………………………………..13

NUCLEAR ENERGY AS AN ALTENATE TO FOSSIL FUELS………………….16

SUGGESTIONS……………………………………………………………………...18

CONCLUSION……………………………………………………………………….20

BIBLIOGRAPHY…………………………………………………………………………...21

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INTRODUCION:

Purpose of the research: The purpose of this research project is to analyze that can
nuclear energy replace the non-renewable energy source (fossil fuels). We aim to analyze the
role of nuclear power to protect our environment for the harmful effects of use of fossil fuels
as an energy source.

This research project is significant as it sheds light on the importance of nuclear power as an
alternative to unreplenishable energy sources, and the disadvantages of non-renewable energy
sources. This research project is intended for our fellow students and English literature
enthusiasts.

We anticipate that this research will provide readers with a deeper understanding of the
nuanced use of atomic energy. To achieve our objectives, we should research more about
atomic energy and should find some healthy uses of atomic power which are not harmful to
our environment

Research Methodology: This research article discusses about the problems caused by
immense use of fossil fuels in our daily life and what are the safe alternative of these non-
renewable sources of energy and this research mainly discuss about the nuclear energy as a
safe alternative to fossil fuels.

I randomly visited so many websites all over the internet in search for the best energy source
which should not be harmful to our health and our environment. In my research I got to know
about Nuclear Energy as a source of energy which is a very good energy source out there, and
it is also very efficient and cost effective source of energy. Nuclear Energy is a zero-emission
clean energy source.

I discovered that, rather than using of the non-renewable energy source as the main source of
energy in our life we should use Nuclear energy as the main source of energy to supply
power all over the globe or to protect our atmosphere from harmful substances which are
released by the burning of fossil fuels. These findings prompted me to conclude that people
should consider the Nuclear energy as the best energy source to control environmental
damages and to control deaths caused by the use of fossil fuels.

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 FOSSIL FUELS

Fossil fuels are hydrocarbon containing materials some examples of fossil fuels are coal, oil,
and natural gas. They are formed naturally in the Earth's crust from the remains of dead
plants and animals that is extracted and burned as a fuel. Fossil fuels are burned to provide
heat for use directly (such as for cooking or heating), to power engines (such as internal
combustion engines in motor vehicles), or to generate electricity. Some fossil fuels are
refined into derivatives such as kerosene, gasoline and propane before burning. The origin of
fossil fuels is the anaerobic decomposition of buried dead organisms, containing organic
molecules created by photosynthesis. The conversion from these materials to high-carbon
fossil fuels typically requires a geological process of millions of years.

Recognition of the climate crisis, pollution and other negative impacts caused by fossil fuels
led to a widespread policy transition and activist movement focused on ending their use in
favor of sustainable energy. However, because the fossil-fuel industry is so heavily integrated
in the global economy and heavily subsidized, this transition is expected to have significant
impacts on economy. Many stakeholders argue that this change needs to be a just transition
and create policy that addresses the societal burdens created by the stranded assets of the
fossil fuel industry.

In 2019 a survey was conducted which shows that, 84% of primary energy consumption in
the world and 64% of its electricity was produced from fossil fuels. The large-scale burning
of fossil fuels causes serious environmental damage. Over 80% of the carbon dioxide (CO2)
generated by human activity (around 35 billion tones a year) comes from burning of fossil
fuels compared to 4 billion from land development. Natural processes on Earth,
mostly absorption by the ocean, can remove only a small part of this. Therefore, there is a net
increase of many billion tones of atmospheric carbon dioxide per year. Although methane
leaks are significant, the burning of fossil fuels is the main source of greenhouse
gas emissions causing global warming and ocean acidification. Additionally, most air
pollution deaths are due to fossil fuel particulates and noxious gases. It is estimated that this
costs over 3% of the global gross domestic product and that fossil fuel phase-out will save
millions of lives each year.

International policy, in the form of United Nations sustainable development goals

for affordable and clean energy and climate action, as well as the Paris Climate Agreement,
is designed to facilitate this transition at a global level. In 2021,
the International Energy Agency concluded that no new fossil fuel extraction
projects could be opened if the global economy and society wants to avoid the
worst impacts of climate change and meet international goals for climate
change mitigation.

Origin

Since oil fields are located only at certain places on Earth, only some countries are oil-
independent, the other countries depend on the oil-production capacities of these countries.
The theory that fossil fuels formed from the fossilized remains of dead plants by exposure to
heat and pressure in Earth's crust over millions of years was first introduced by (Andreas

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Libavius) "in his 1597 Alchemia" and later by (Mikhail Lomonosov) "as early as 1757 and

Certainly by 1763". The first use of the term "fossil fuel" occurs in the work of the German
chemist (Caspar Neumann), in English translation in 1759. The Oxford English
Dictionary notes that in the phrase "fossil fuel" the adjective "fossil" means "obtained by
digging, found buried in the earth", which dates to at least 1652, before the English noun
"fossil" came to refer primarily to long-dead organisms in the early 18th century.

Aquatic phytoplankton and zooplankton that died and sediment in large quantities
under anoxic conditions millions of years ago began forming petroleum and natural gas as a
result of anaerobic decomposition. Over geological time this organic matter, mixed
with mud, became buried under further heavy layers of inorganic sediment. The resulting
high temperature and pressure caused the organic matter to chemically alter, first into a waxy
material known as kerogen, which is found in oil shales, and then with more heat into liquid
and gaseous hydrocarbons in a process known as catagenesis. Despite these heat-driven
transformations, the energy released in combustion is still photosynthetic in origin.

Terrestrial plants tended to form coal and methane. Many of the coal fields date to
the Carboniferous period of Earth's history. Terrestrial plants also form type III kerogen, a
source of natural gas. Although fossil fuels are continually formed by natural processes, they
are classified as non-renewable resources because they take millions of years to form and
known viable reserves are being depleted much faster than new ones are generated.

Importance

Net income of the global oil and gas industry reached a record US$4 trillion in 2022. After
recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, energy company profits increased with greater
revenues from higher fuel prices resulting from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, falling debt
levels, tax rate-downs of projects shut down in Russia, and backing off from earlier plans to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Record profits sparked public calls for windfall taxes.

Fossil fuels have been important to human development because they can be easily burned in
the open atmosphere and produces heat. The use of peat as a domestic fuel predates recorded
history. Coal was burned in some early furnaces for the smelting of metal ore, while semi-
solid hydrocarbons from oil seeps were also burned in ancient times; they were mostly used
for waterproofing and embalming.

Commercial exploitation of petroleum began in the 19th century. Natural gas, once flared-
off as an unneeded byproduct of petroleum production, is now considered a very valuable
resource. Natural gas deposits are also the main source of helium. Heavy crude oil, which is
much more viscous than conventional crude oil, and oil sands, where bitumen is found mixed
with sand and clay began to become more important as sources of fossil fuel in the early
2000s.

Oil shale and similar materials are sedimentary rocks containing kerogen, a complex mixture
of high-molecular weight organic compounds, which yield synthetic crude oil when heated
(pyrolyzed). With additional processing, they can be employed instead of other established
fossil fuels.

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During the 2010s and 2020s there was disinvestment from exploitation of such resources due
to their high carbon cost relative to more easily-processed reserves. Prior to the latter half of
the 18th century, windmills and watermills provided the energy needed for work such as
milling flour, sawing wood or pumping water, while burning wood or peat provided domestic
heat. The wide-scale use of fossil fuels, coal at first and petroleum later, in steam
engines enabled the Industrial Revolution.

At the same time, gas lights using natural gas or coal gas were coming into wide use. The
invention of the internal combustion engine and its use in automobiles and trucks greatly
increased the demand for gasoline and diesel oil, both made from fossil fuels. Other forms of
transportation, railways and aircraft, also require fossil fuels. The other major use for fossil
fuels is in generating electricity and as feedstock for the petrochemical industry.

Tar, a leftover of petroleum extraction, is used in the construction of roads. The energy for
the Green Revolution was provided by fossil fuels in the form of fertilizers (natural
gas), pesticides (oil), and hydrocarbon-fueled irrigation. The development of synthetic
nitrogen fertilizer has significantly supported global population growth; it has been estimated
that almost half of the Earth's population are currently fed as a result of synthetic nitrogen
fertilizer use.

According to head of a fertilizers commodity price agency, "50% of the world's food relies
on fertilizers."

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 DISADVANTAGES OF FOSSIL FUELS

Environmental effects

The Global Carbon Project shows how additions to CO2 since

1880 have been caused by different sources ramping up one after
another. The burning of fossil fuels has a number of
negative externalities – harmful environmental impacts where
the effects extend beyond the people using the fuel. The actual
effects depend on the fuel in question. All fossil fuels release
CO2 when they burn, thus accelerating climate change. Burning
coal, and to a lesser extent oil and its derivatives, contribute
to atmospheric particulate matter, smog and acid rain.

Climate change is largely driven by the release of greenhouse gasses like CO2, with the
burning of fossil fuels being the main source of these emissions. In most parts of the world
climate change is negatively impacting ecosystems. This includes contributing to the
extinction of species and reducing people's ability to produce food, thus adding to the
problem of world hunger.

Continued rises in global temperatures will lead to further adverse effects on both ecosystems
and people, with the World Health Organization having stated climate change is the greatest
threat to human health in the 21st century. Combustion of fossil fuels
generates sulfuric and nitric acids, which fall to Earth as acid rain, impacting both natural
areas and the built environment.

Monuments and sculptures made from marble and limestone are particularly vulnerable, as
the acids dissolve calcium carbonate. Fossil fuels also contain radioactive materials,
mainly uranium and thorium, which are released into the atmosphere. In 2000, about
12,000 tones of thorium and 5,000 tons of Uranium were released worldwide from burning
coal.

It is estimated that during 1982, US coal burning released 155 times as much radioactivity
into the atmosphere as the Three Mile Island accident. Burning coal also generates large
amounts of bottom ash and fly ash. These materials are used in a wide variety of applications
(see Fly ash reuse), utilizing, for example, about 40% of the United States production. In
addition to the effects that result from burning, the harvesting, processing, and distribution of
fossil fuels also have environmental effects.

Coal mining methods, particularly mountaintop removal and strip mining, have negative
environmental impacts, and offshore oil drilling poses a hazard to aquatic organisms. Fossil
fuel wells can contribute to methane release via fugitive gas emissions. Oil refineries also
have negative environmental impacts, including air and water pollution.

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Coal is sometimes transported by diesel-powered locomotives, while crude oil is typically
transported by tanker ships, requiring the combustion of additional fossil fuels.
A variety of mitigating efforts have arisen to counter the negative effects of fossil fuels. This
includes a movement to use alternative energy sources, such as renewable energy.

Environmental regulation uses a variety of approaches to limit these emissions; for example,
rules against releasing waste products like fly ash into the atmosphere. In December 2020, the
United Nations released a report saying that despite the need to reduce greenhouse emissions,
various governments are "doubling down" on fossil fuels, in some cases diverting over 50%
of their COVID-19 recovery stimulus funding to fossil fuel production rather than to
alternative energy.

The UN secretary general António Guterres declared that "Humanity is waging war on
nature. This is suicidal. Nature always strikes back – and it is already doing so with growing
force and fury." However, Guterres also said there is still cause for hope, anticipating Joe
Biden's plan for the US to join other large emitters like China and the EU in adopting targets
to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

Illness and deaths

Environmental pollution from fossil fuels impacts humans because particulates and other air
pollution from fossil fuel combustion cause illness and death when inhaled. These health
effects include premature death, acute respiratory illness, aggravated asthma, chronic
bronchitis and decreased lung function.

The poor, undernourished, very young and very old, and people with preexisting respiratory
disease and other ill health are more at risk. Global air pollution deaths due to fossil fuels
have been estimated at over 8 million people (2018, nearly 1 in 5 deaths worldwide) and at
10.2 million (2019).

While all energy sources inherently have adverse effects, the data shows that fossil fuels
causes the highest levels of greenhouse gas emissions and are the most dangerous for human
health. In contrast, modern renewable energy sources appear to be safer for human health and
cleaner.

The death rate from accidents and air pollution in the EU are as follows per terawatt-hour:
coal (24.6 deaths), oil (18.4 deaths), natural gas (2.8 deaths), biomass (4.6 deaths),
hydropower (0.02 deaths), nuclear energy (0.07 deaths), wind (0.04 deaths), and solar (0.02
deaths).

The greenhouse gas emissions from each energy source are as follows, measured in tones:
coal (820 tones), oil (720 tones), natural gas (490 tones), biomass (78–230 tones),
hydropower (34 tones), nuclear energy (3 tones), wind (4 tones), and solar (5 tones).

As the data shows, coal, oil, natural gas, and biomass cause higher death rates and higher
levels of greenhouse gas emissions than hydropower, nuclear energy, wind, and solar power.
Scientists propose that 1.8 million lives have been saved by replacing fossil fuel sources with

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nuclear power.

NUCLEAR ENERGY

Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of
protons and neutrons. This source of energy can be produced in two ways:
(1) Fission – when nuclei of atoms split into several parts
(2) Fusion – when nuclei fuse together

The nuclear energy harnessed around the world today to produce electricity is through
nuclear fission, while technology to generate electricity from fusion is at the R&D (Research
and Development) phase. Nuclear fission is a reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits
into two or more smaller nuclei, while releasing energy.

For instance, when hit by a neutron, the nucleus of an atom of uranium-235 splits into two
smaller nuclei, for example a barium nucleus and a krypton nucleus and two or three
neutrons. These extra neutrons will hit other surrounding uranium-235 atoms, which will also
split and generate additional neutrons in a multiplying effect, thus generating a chain reaction
in a fraction of a second.

Each time when reaction occurs, there is a release of energy in the form of heat and radiation.
That heat can be easily converted into electricity in a nuclear power plant, similarly to how
heat from fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil is used to generate electricity.

A nuclear reactor, or power plant, is a series of machines

that can control nuclear fission to produce electricity.
The fuel that nuclear reactors use to produce nuclear
fission is pellets of the element uranium. In a nuclear
reactor, atoms of uranium are forced to break apart. As they
split, the atoms release tiny particles called fission products.
Fission products cause other uranium atoms to split,
starting a chain reaction. The energy released from this
chain reaction produce heat.

Nuclear reactors and their equipment contain and control the chain reactions, most commonly
fuelled by uranium-235, to produce heat through fission. The heat warms the reactor’s
cooling agent, typically water, but some nuclear reactors use liquid metal or molten salt to
produce steam. The steam is then channeled to spin turbines, or wheels turned by a
flowing current activating an electric generator to create low-carbon electricity.

Rods of material called nuclear poison can adjust how much electricity is produced. Nuclear
poisons are materials, such as a type of the element xenon, that absorb some of the fission
products created by nuclear fission. The more rods of nuclear poison that are present during
the chain reaction, the slower and more controlled the reaction will be. Removing the rods

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will allow a stronger chain reaction and create more electricity.

As of 2011, about 15 percent of the world's electricity is generated by

nuclear power plants. The United States has more than 100 reactors,
although it creates most of its electricity from fossil fuels and hydroelectric
energy. Nations such as Lithuania, France, and Slovakia create almost all
of their electricity from nuclear power plants.

Mining, enrichment and disposal of uranium

Uranium is the fuel most widely used to produce nuclear energy. That's
because uranium atoms split apart relatively easily. Uranium is a metal that can be found in
rocks all over the world. Uranium has several naturally occurring isotopes, which are forms
of an element differing in mass and physical properties but with the same chemical
properties. Uranium has two primordial isotopes: uranium-238 and uranium-235. Uranium-
238 makes up the majority of the uranium in the world but cannot produce a fission chain
reaction, while uranium-235 can be used to produce energy by fission but constitutes less
than 1 per cent of the world’s uranium.

To make natural uranium more likely to undergo fission, it is necessary to increase the
amount of uranium-235 in a given sample through a process called uranium enrichment.
Once the uranium is enriched, it can be used effectively as nuclear fuel in power plants for
three to five years, after which it is still radioactive and has to be disposed of following
stringent guidelines to protect people and the environment. Used fuel, also referred to as
spent fuel, can also be recycled into other types of fuel for use as new fuel in special nuclear
power plants.

Although some of the uranium the United States uses is mined in this country, most
is imported. The U.S. gets uranium from Australia, Canada, Kazakhstan, Russia, and
Uzbekistan. Once uranium is mined, it must be extracted from other minerals. It must also be
processed before it can be used.

Because nuclear fuel can be used to create nuclear weapons as well as nuclear reactors, only
nations that are part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) are allowed
to import uranium or plutonium, another nuclear fuel. The treaty promotes the peaceful use of
nuclear fuel, as well as limiting the spread of nuclear weapons.

A typical nuclear reactor uses about 200 tons of uranium every year. Complex processes
allow some uranium and plutonium to be re-enriched or recycled. This reduces the amount
of mining, extracting, and processing that needs to be done.

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Chernobyl

Critics of nuclear energy worry that the storage facilities for radioactive waste will leak,
crack, or erode. Radioactive material could then contaminate the soil and groundwater near
the facility. This could lead to serious health problems for the people and organisms in the
area. All communities would have to be evacuated.

This is what happened in Chernobyl, Ukraine, in 1986. A steam explosion at one of

the power plants four nuclear reactors caused a fire, called a plume. This plume was
highly radioactive, creating a cloud of radioactive particles that fell to the ground,
called fallout. The fallout spread over the Chernobyl facility, as well as the surrounding area.
The fallout drifted with the wind, and the particles entered the water cycle as rain.
Radioactivity traced to Chernobyl fell as rain over Scotland and Ireland. Most of
the radioactive fallout fell in Belarus.

The environmental impact of the Chernobyl disaster was immediate. For kilometers around
the facility, the pine forest dried up and died. The red color of the dead pines earned this area
the nickname the Red Forest. Fish from the nearby Pripyat River had so many radio activities
that people could no longer eat them. Cattle and horses in the area died.

More than 100,000 people were relocated after the disaster, but the number of
human victims of Chernobyl is difficult to determine. The effects of radiation poisoning only
appear after many years. Cancers and other diseases can be very difficult to trace to a single
source.

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 NUCLEAR ENERGY AS AN ALTERNATE TO FOSSIL FUELS

Nuclear energy is often considered as an alternative to fossil fuels for electricity generation
because it offers several advantages, but it also comes with significant challenges and
concerns. Here are some of the key points to consider:

Nuclear waste
The operation of nuclear power plants produces waste with varying levels of radioactivity.
These are managed differently depending on their level of radioactivity and purpose.
The next generation of nuclear power plants, also called innovative advanced reactors, will
generate much less nuclear waste than today’s reactors. It is expected that they could be
under construction by 2030.

Nuclear power and climate change

Nuclear power is a low-carbon source of energy, because unlike coal, oil or gas power plants,
nuclear power plants practically do not produce CO2 during their operation. Nuclear reactors
generate close to one-third of the world’s carbon free electricity and are crucial in meeting
climate change goals.

Nuclear Energy and People

Nuclear energy produces electricity that can be used to power homes, schools, businesses,
and hospitals. The first nuclear reactor to produce electricity was located near Arco, Idaho.
The Experimental Breeder Reactor began powering itself in 1951. The first nuclear power
plant designed to provide energy to a community was established in Obninsk, Russia, in
1954.

Building nuclear reactors requires a high level of technology, and only the countries that have
signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty can get the uranium or plutonium that is
required. For these reasons, most nuclear power plants are located in the developed world.

Nuclear power plants produce renewable, clean energy. They do not pollute the air or
release greenhouse gases. They can be built in urban or rural areas, and do not radically alter
the environment around them.

The steam powering the turbines and generators is ultimately recycled. It is cooled down in a
separate structure called a cooling tower. The steam turns back into water and can be used

16
again to produce more electricity. Excess steam is simply recycled into the atmosphere,
where it does little harm as clean water vapor.

However, the byproduct of nuclear energy is radioactive material. Radioactive material is a

collection of unstable atomic nuclei. These nuclei lose their energy and can affect many
materials around them, including organisms and the environment. Radioactive material can
be extremely toxic, causing burns and increasing the risk for cancers, blood diseases, and
bone decay.

Radioactive waste is what is left over from the operation of a nuclear

reactor. Radioactive waste is mostly protective clothing worn by workers, tools, and any
other material that have been in contact with radioactive dust. Radioactive waste is long-
lasting. Materials like clothes and tools can stay radioactive for thousands of years. The
government regulates how these materials are disposed of so they don't contaminate anything
else.

Used fuel and rods of nuclear poison are extremely radioactive. The used uranium
pellets must be stored in special containers that look like large swimming pools. Water cools
the fuel and insulates the outside from contact with the radioactivity. Some nuclear plants
store their used fuel in dry storage tanks above ground.

The storage sites for radioactive waste have become very controversial in the United States.
For years, the government planned to construct an enormous nuclear waste facility near
Yucca Mountain, Nevada, for instance. Environmental groups and local citizens protested the
plan. They worried about radioactive waste leaking into the water supply and the Yucca
Mountain environment, about 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the large urban area of Las
Vegas, Nevada. Although the government began investigating the site in 1978, it stopped
planning for a nuclear waste facility in Yucca Mountain in 2009.

Future of Nuclear Energy

Nuclear reactors use fission, or the splitting of atoms, to produce energy. Nuclear energy can
also be produced through fusion or joining (fusing) atoms together. The sun, for instance, is
constantly undergoing nuclear fusion as hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium. Because all life
on our planet depends on the sun, you could say that nuclear fusion makes life on Earth
possible.

Nuclear power plants do not have the capability to safely and reliably produce energy
from nuclear fusion. It's not clear whether the process will ever be an option for
producing electricity. Nuclear engineers are researching nuclear fusion, however, because the
process will likely be safe and cost-effective.

17
 SUGGESTIONS

Research on the topic of whether nuclear energy is a safe alternative to fossil fuels can
explore various dimensions and aspects. Here are some research suggestions to consider:

Comparative Safety Analysis: Conduct an in-depth analysis that compares the safety
records of nuclear energy and fossil fuel-based power generation. Examine historical data on
accidents, human health impacts, and environmental consequences associated with each
energy source.

Safety Improvements and Technological Advancements: Investigate the latest safety

technologies and practices in the nuclear energy sector. Explore how advancements in reactor
design, materials, and safety protocols have contributed to making nuclear energy safer.

Waste Management and Disposal: Examine the challenges and solutions related to the
long-term storage and disposal of nuclear waste. Investigate the safety measures in place to
prevent radioactive contamination and evaluate their effectiveness.

Security and Proliferation Concerns: Explore the security aspects of nuclear energy,
including safeguards against nuclear weapons proliferation. Investigate international
agreements and organizations designed to manage and mitigate proliferation risks.

Economic Viability and Safety Trade-offs: Analyze the economic viability of nuclear
energy compared to fossil fuels and renewable energy sources. Examine the trade-offs
between safety, cost, and energy production.

Emergency Preparedness and Response: Evaluate the emergency preparedness and

response plans for nuclear power plants. Investigate the lessons learned from past accidents
and assess how well-equipped countries are to handle nuclear emergencies.

Nuclear Energy Regulations and Governance: Study the regulatory frameworks governing
nuclear energy in different countries. Analyze how regulatory agencies enforce safety
standards and assess the effectiveness of regulatory oversight.

Technological Innovations in Nuclear: Explore emerging technologies in the nuclear

energy sector, such as small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactor designs. Assess
their safety features and potential contributions to a safer nuclear energy landscape.

Case Studies and Comparative Analysis: Conduct case studies of specific nuclear power
plants and their safety records. Compare these findings with case studies of fossil fuel power
plants, highlighting the differences and similarities in safety measures and outcomes.

Environmental Impact Assessment: Investigate the environmental impacts of both nuclear

energy and fossil fuels, including greenhouse gas emissions, air and water pollution, and land

18
use. Evaluate the safety and environmental trade-offs.

Future Energy Scenarios: Develop scenarios that project the role of nuclear energy in future
energy systems, taking into account safety considerations, technological advancements, and
climate change mitigation.

Public Policy and Decision-Making: Examine the role of government policies, political
decisions, and public debates in shaping the safety and future of nuclear energy as an
alternative to fossil fuels.

Each of these research suggestions can be explored in-depth to contribute to a comprehensive

understanding of the safety aspects of nuclear energy as an alternative to fossil fuels.
Researchers can tailor their investigations to address specific aspects of safety and
sustainability within this broader topic.

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 CONCLUSION

The question of whether nuclear energy is a safe alternative to fossil fuels is a pressing
concern as the world grapples with the dual challenges of meeting growing energy demands
and combating climate change. Our research has endeavored to shed light on this complex
issue, and it has yielded several key insights:

Safety and Reliability of Nuclear Energy: The evidence suggests that nuclear energy can
indeed be a safe and reliable source of power. When operated with rigorous safety measures,
modern nuclear power plants have an impressive track record in preventing accidents and
minimizing radiation exposure to the public.

Carbon Emissions and Climate Change Mitigation: Nuclear energy offers a low-carbon
alternative to fossil fuels, providing a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. As
such, it plays a vital role in mitigating the effects of climate change.

Waste Management and Proliferation Concerns: The safe disposal of nuclear waste and
the potential for nuclear proliferation remain challenges. These issues underscore the
importance of stringent regulations, international cooperation, and advancements in waste
management technologies.

Public Perception and Trust: Public perception of nuclear energy is influenced by both
historical accidents and concerns about long-term safety. Building and maintaining trust in
the safety of nuclear power are crucial for its continued use as a clean energy source.

Alternatives and Diversification: While nuclear energy offers a promising alternative to

fossil fuels, it is not a standalone solution. A diversified energy mix that includes renewable,
energy efficiency and nuclear power can provide a more sustainable and resilient energy
system.

In conclusion, our research suggests that nuclear energy has a role to play in the transition
away from fossil fuels. Its safety and low carbon emissions make it an attractive option for
addressing the global energy and climate challenges. However, it is essential to acknowledge
the inherent risks and challenges associated with nuclear power, from waste management to
security concerns.

The path forward involves rigorous safety standards, continuous technological advancements,
and responsible policy development to ensure that nuclear energy remains a safe and viable
alternative to fossil fuels. Moreover, public education and engagement are crucial for
building the necessary trust and support for nuclear energy in the energy transition.

As we confront the urgent need for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, nuclear
energy should be considered as part of the solution, with the awareness that safety and
responsible management are paramount to its success in the global energy landscape.

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Engineering from Virginia Tech, Evan uses his background to develop and implement
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10. Wikipedia: Wikipedia is a free-content online encyclopedia written and maintained
by a community of volunteers, collectively known as Wikipedians, through open
collaboration and using a wiki-based editing system called Media Wiki. Wikipedia is
the largest and most-read reference work in history and has consistently been one of
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11. Research Gate: Research Gate is a European commercial social networking site for
scientists and researchers to share papers, ask and answer questions, and find
collaborators. According to a 2014 study by Nature and a 2016 article in Times
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 THE END
THANK YOU

Submitted By:
Sikander Ali Khan
12th Science-C

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