Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power

Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters

The Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters are considered as the worst nuclear plant accidents in history. Indeed, they have been classified as level 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale. The Chernobyl plant accident, which occurred in resulted from the poor design of the facility. In addition, the workers did not have adequate skills to handle the catastrophe. As a result, the radiation from the plant led to a loss of about 30 people according to Soviet officials. However, the figures could be higher. More workers were required to contain the disasters with over 18 billion rubles used to cater for costs. Cases of cancer and deformities resulting from radiation from the nuclear facility continue to be reported. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was occasioned by the Tohoku earthquake and Tsunami on 11 March 2011 (Buck, Upton & Folger, 2011). There were no human errors in design, and the cooling systems were well above those of Chernobyl. Although many people lost their lives because of the earthquake and Tsunami, no deaths have been reported concerning radiation from the nuclear plant (Buck, Upton & Folger, 2011). Indeed, radiation from the plant was significantly low compared to the Chernobyl case. Overall, the Chernobyl and the Fukushima nuclear plant provide vital lesson for as people move towards the use of nuclear energy (Buck, Upton & Folger, 2011, Turk & Bensel, 2011). The necessary safeguards must be put in place and safety upgrades are necessary on the nuclear plants.

Drawbacks of using hydropower and nuclear energy

Hydropower plants can significantly alter the geology of a place. It can also lead to massive dislocation of people and animals to build the dams and other facilities. Moreover, if a dams breaks, it can lead to massive loss of lives. However, compared to nuclear plants, dams are relatively cheaper to build. Dams do not require fossil fuels to run. Therefore, hydropower provides the cleanest form of energy (Miller, 2011).

On The other hand, the disaster of the two nuclear plants provide a platform for engineers as well as scientists to evaluate the risks and benefits that accrue from nuclear energy plants in a way that satisfies the curiosity of all people (Ingram, 2005, Turk & Bensel, 2011). However, the major risks factors are radiations from nuclear plants, and management of nuclear waste. It is estimated that materials waste can take up to 500 years before they become useful again (Miller, 2011). The facilities require huge sums of money to erect, more than would be required to build a dam to generate hydropower. The resources needed to contain any accident are enormous compared to hydropower. In addition, care must be taken to shield people, animals, and the environment.

Indeed, all types of energy sources have inherent risks as well as benefits. For instance, in 2010, 11 workers lost their lives in the Deep Water Horizon oil platform (Kilroy, 2010). In the same year, 29 workers lost their lives at the Big Branch Coal Mine (Kilroy, 2010). As if that is not enough, a natural gas pipeline occurred in California claiming eight lives and displacing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes (Blatt, 2011). The building of the Hoover Dam in the US triggered several earthquakes that led to massive geological damages. These statistics are glaring and tell a story in a big way. Every source of energy has its own benefits and risks. However, it is up to the engineers, scientists, as well as governments to put in place enough safeguards to minimize the risks that go with these plants (Ingram, 2005). For instance, the low-lying rooms in the Fukushima plant would not have been flooded were it not for the Tsunami. Therefore, engineers should take cognizance of any event that might hinder the operations of a plant.

In summary, the Fukushima nuclear plant and the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown are two poignant instances in the energy generation sector. Several lives were lost because of radiation from Chernobyl accident. This proves the inherent risk in using nuclear energy as a source of energy. Although no one lost his or her live in the Fukushima plant, this is not enough reason to wish away the incidence. In addition, nuclear energy is a safe way of generating energy because of few risks to the environment compared to the use of fossil fuels. On the other hand, hydropower provides the safest and cleanest form of energy, compared to nuclear energy. The biggest problem of nuclear energy is the long-term risks from waste materials and radiation. In addition, nuclear plants are more expensive to build than dams.

References

Blatt, H. (2011). America’s Environmental Report Card: are we making the grade?.New York: The MIT Press.

Buck, H. E. Upton, F. H. & Folger, P. (2011). Effects of Radiation from Fukushima Daiichi on the U.S. Marine Environment. London: DIANE Publishing.

Ingram, S. (2005). The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster. New York: Facts on File, Inc.

Kilroy, J. (2010). Deepwater Horizon Rig and Upper Big Branch Mine Suffered Similar Safety Negligence. Retrieved from http://tenthmil.com/campaigns/policy/deepwater_horizon_rig_and_upper_big_branch_mine_suffered_similar_safety_negligence

Miller, K. (2011). Nuclear Power or Hydropower? Hydropower is best in the end. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/nuclear-power-hydropower-9129357.html?cat=58

Turk, J. and Bensel, T. (2011). Contemporary Environmental Issues. Retrieved from: https://content.ashford.edu/books/AUSCI207.11.1/sections/fm

 

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