Forgoing nuclear energy is unwise for industrialized nations, especially considering all the new technology in that space, and the ability to use the fuel rods so much longer. Today's nuclear technology isn't anything like that of the old technology. It's safer, more efficient, and able to all but eliminate the need for large long-term storage facilities. Okay, so let's talk about what's going on out there in the near-term, and why this is going to be a problem.
In Nuclear Power Daily Online News there was an article titled; "Saudi to Build 16 Nuclear Reactors" by the staff writers in Riyadh published on June 1, 2011 which stated the project would take decades to complete and cost $80 million - "the reactors to be used in generating electricity and desalinating sea water and cover about 20% of Saudi Arabia's electricity needs." Another article in the same online publication, on the same day was titled; "India Stands firm on Nuclear Power" written by staff writers in New Delhi.
Meanwhile in Germany there have been protestors and Merkel's party acquiesced to politics and announced that it would shut down ALL of their nuclear power plants by 2020, which one might note is a short-term political knee jerk reaction, and it's going to be costly for Germany in the long-term. In fact, there was a great article in the Economist on June 2, 2011 titled; Nuclear? Nein, Danke - A Nuclear Phase-Out Leaves Germans Energy Policy in a Muddle."
Yes, indeed, I'd say that's about right. The leader paragraph in that article stated that after the horrific Japan natural disaster and nuke plant meltdowns, Germans had a change of heart on nuclear energy with anti-nuke protest flags and all; "The response by Merkel the swiftest change of political course since unification, last year they overturned a decade-old decision to phase out nuclear power by 2022."
In fact, Peter Fairley at MIT's Technology Review seems to agree in a piece he wrote on June 3 titled "What'll a Nuclear-Free Germany Cost? - Merkel's plan to exchange nuclear reactors for offshore wind farms and a stronger grid could cost more than expected," and suggests that it will cost the average household in Germany $50-60 per year, plus short-term issues with reoccurring blackouts. Solar and Wind are not going to cut it either, expect more coal-fired plants, clean-coal technology enabled that is.
China has also cut its nuclear ambitions, but it is having challenges with water supply, thus, not getting enough out of their hydro-electric energy. They've been building coal-fired plants at a rapid pace but, that's not doing them any good on the world scene amid the call for reduction of green-house gases, and they are doing some but relatively little fully integrated clean coal plants. They've scraped their nuclear plans for now, but will have to re-consider, as they have energy issues and challenges as any industrialized nation does.
The world should not be in such a rush to cut nuclear power out of their energy choices, and all this knee jerk reaction is simply unwise. Smart nations are thinking long-term and understand the value of nuclear power. Please consider all this and think on it.
Lance Winslow is the Founder of the Online Think Tank, a diverse group of achievers, experts, innovators, entrepreneurs, thinkers, futurists, academics, dreamers, leaders, and general all around brilliant minds. Lance Winslow hopes you've enjoyed today's discussion and topic. http://www.worldthinktank.net/ - Have an important subject to discuss, contact Lance Winslow.
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