The Case for Nuclear

Advanced nuclear fission and fusion reactors will be the technology that leads the decarbonization revolution. Nuclear power (fission) releases on average between 15 and 50 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour compared to gas generation which produces 450 grams CO2 per kilowatt hour. Coal is around 1050 gCO2/kWh. Nuclear fusion releases less CO2 than fission because it requires no mining of radioactive material. Nuclear technology is proven, reliable, space efficient, and the waste can be stored in a discrete manner on sites located away from population centers. It is safe as there have been very few accidents; the stigma is unwarranted. Advanced nuclear fuels like uranium nitride and TRISO have the capability of revolutionizing the fission fuel life cycle as they produce more energy per gram than the traditional uranium oxide. There are detractors from nuclear but the benefits for a short term boom in advanced nuclear in the next ten years combined with a strategic focus of fusion in the next thirty years could mean a viable solution to part of the climate crisis. Of course conservation, novel materials, better concrete, and efficient data and internet services are required. The reality is that the modern era has brought electrically intensive technologies like cryptocurrency, EVs, and AI. The increased demand is not predicted to vanish. What is needed is a technological solution. Nuclear is that solution.