Chapter 6 - The Need for Nuclear

Support for, or opposition to, nuclear energy depends to a large extent on whether the individual believes that it is needed or that conservation and other energy forms, possibly more benign, render it unnecessary. Because now, and for the next few decades at least, nuclear energy is available in the form of electricity from large, centralized power plants, the need for electricity becomes an element of this issue. The issue is therefore discussed under the following headings:

Energy Demand

Energy Conservation

Electricity Demand

Electricity Supply Options

In addition to simply generating electricity, there is a proposal that nuclear energy produce heat, electricity and hydrogen for the extraction and refining of oil from Canada's oil ("tar") sands, thereby extending oil resources while reducing pollution. Elsewhere in the world there are proposals to exploit nuclear energy for the desalination of water.

Factual Summary

In a discussion of the need for nuclear energy, the following facts are generally agreed:

• Adequate energy is essential for life on earth.
• The sun provides the earth with far more energy than mankind would ever need.
• National economies, human health, environmental well-being and peoples' quality of life depend on the availability of affordable energy.
• Population growth and improving the lot of underprivileged people, both in Canada and globally, will increase the energy demand.
• Increasing the efficiency of energy extraction, conversion and use can help, but energy conservation cannot prevent the need for a large increase in global energy supply over the 21st century.
• During that period, the non-renewable fossil fuels, oil, natural gas and coal, which together constitute the majority of the world's energy supply now, will become increasingly scarce and hence expensive.
• Renewable sources, based on solar energy, except hydroelectricity, can never be cheap since although the energy is free, large well-engineered structures are needed for the collection and storage of a diffuse and intermittent source.
• Any new energy source that does not yet provide one per cent of the supply is unlikely to contribute significantly to the supply before mid-century.
• For the next few decades, nuclear energy is not strictly needed, in the sense that, technically, it would be possible to satisfy the demand from other sources.
• All energy sources have their costs to health and the environment, as well as economic costs.

If nuclear energy is not absolutely necessary, the issue becomes: "Is it desirable?" To address this, we must assess the costs and benefits of nuclear energy and compare these with the costs and benefits of possible options. This will be done in subsequent chapters.

Abbreviations

Technical Terms