N-power a safe bet for a clean earth

Calls are growing to preserve existing nuclear power plants through investing in new designs to replace the old ones when they retire. This development will help produce more clean energy tofight climate change.
The renewed interest in nuclear energy led to developing the cutting-edge “fourth-generation” reactor designs that are safer. If left unattended, they would safely halt.
But the nuclear sector faces resistance from environmentalists and public opinion in some states, notably the US, where nuclear reactors supply almost two-thirds of the country’s low-carbon energy — reliably and without harm to human health or the Earth’s atmosphere.
Many people worldwide just look at the nuclear disasters, which are very few and mainly caused by human errors, using them against the nuclear industry, and ignoring the other side of story- clean energy. It is also threatened by market forces and short-sighted public policy.
Further, the nuclear energy, though clean, it isstill threatened by cheaper and abundant natural gas as well as wind power.
Yet, the decision makers shouldn’t drop the nuclear option. The nuclear power can at certain point keep consumer electricity prices low — especially when the price of natural gas inevitably rises again. Another advantage, the nuclear plants can provide energy that is dependable, affordable and, above all, clean.
The calls for new nuclear plant designs come to avert nuclear accidents such as in Japan in 2011. They will definitely helpcreate stronger, safer nuclear power plants, and most importantly restore the public confidence.
The UAE is among the states that embarked on reviewing its nuclear power safety measures prompted by the Japanese nuclear disaster five years ago. These new measures will bolster the Western Region’s Barakah nuclear power plant’s capacity to withstand extreme events after its first of four reactor units goes online.
Christer Viktorsson, director-general of the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), said that creating a safety culture in the UAE nuclear industry is paramount to avoid such a tragedy from being repeated here in the face of extreme natural disasters.
As part of the safety culture, the UAE set up a body to oversee the UAE’s nuclear plant — the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). This body entrusted the nuclear programme must meet stricter enhanced safety regulations before the facility goes online.
Helen Rycraft, senior nuclear safety officer, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said on the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl accident that the Ukrainian nuclear power reactor accident also reshaped safety measures within the industry. “One of the lessons learnt was that technology alone could not be relied upon to ensure safety — and that the attitudes and behaviour of management and employees also have a vital role to play.”
Many countries are wrestling with the nuclear option as stalwarts like France tap the brakes, Japan uneasily presses on and China drops a cinder block on the gas pedal.China has 32 nuclear reactors online, 22 under construction and more in the planning stages, putting it on a trajectory to hit 150 GW of nuclear power generation by 2030.
Swedenpledged on Friday to continue nuclear power for the foreseeable future, backtracking on its pledge to phase out atomic energy.
While in the US,the debate is on whether the nuclear sector is deemed clean. In a country about to go on a strict carbon diet, the nuclear energy industry wants to make sure it’s still on the menu.
“Nuclear is without a question the most important environmental technology in the 21st century,” said Michael Shellenberger, an advocate for nuclear power and president of Environmental Progress.
As the push for the clean energy grows, with the aim to reduce carbon emissions in fight against climate change, the battle for the safer nuclear energy is winnable.