Discuss the

advantages &
disadvantages of
nuclear energy.
- L a m Ya n K i , K e l l y -
-20223384-
-CL96-
 • Introduction
• 1st benefit
• 2nd benefit

Agenda • 1st drawback

• 2nd drawback
• Conclusion
 Introduction
Definition
• Nuclear energy = released from the nucleus
Statistics
• In 2021, Global electricity contribution = 11% (Mathew,
2022)
1st benefit
• Low carbon footprint
• CO2 (GHGs) -> global warming
• CO2 produced through burning fossil fuel
• Fossil fuel -> nuclear power = lower 64
gigatonnes of global carbon dioxide
emissions (Kharecha & Hansen, 2013).
2nd benefit
• Contributes to non-electric applications
• Seawater desalination
• Seawater -> drinkable water
• Energy required is drawn from nuclear
power plant
• E.g., Nuclear reactor in Kazakhstan (Rosen,
2020)
1st drawback
• High construction cost + often overrun
• 97% of 180 nuclear projects overrun
• Wind & solar = $240,000 per installed MW
(one million watts of electricity)
• Nuclear & hydro = $890,000 - $1.2 million
per MW (Sovacool et al., 2014)
2nd drawback
• High nuclear leak risks + harms human health
• 440 major radiation accidents in 70 years
• Physical health = Chernobyl accident increased
chances of getting thyroid cancer (Hasegawa et
al., 2015)
• Mental health = Fukushima accident, more
children get higher score in the SDQ test
(Mashiko et al., 2017)
 Conclusion
• Restated the pro & cons
• My standance = Do not support
• disaster created by nuclear leaks outweigh the benefits
• Long-term + irreversible
Thank you
Q&A