Article
Can Nuclear Energy Reduce Energy and Water Poverty?
In a world with a rapidly growing energy demand, how do we ensure that we don't meet this demand with oil and coal – but with clean and sustainable energy sources? The answer could be nuclear energy.
It is reliable, efficient, affordable, space-efficient, portable, storable, and emits zero carbon emissions. But can it be dependable enough to reduce the demand for fossil fuels?
Consider sub-Saharan Africa, where over one billion people are without access to reliable power, especially in regions without reliable energy grids. By the year 2050, the population in these regions will likely double, while climate commitments will prevent the use of fossil fuels for backup energy, potentially worsening the issues of energy poverty. Hence, an alternate method of energy is the need of the hour. Furthermore, according to UNICEF, over 300 million people in this region do not have access to clean drinking water, contributing to unsanitary health conditions and inequality.
Nuclear energy could replace fossil fuels, negate energy poverty, provide clean water, and mitigate the effects of climate change if its global capacity increases from a little over 400 GW today to 1,000 GW by 2050. However, limitations in infrastructure, supply chains, regulation, and other factors have hindered the deployment of nuclear energy in energy-deficient parts of the world. With the advent of advanced small, modular nuclear reactors, developing nations have the potential to leapfrog out of energy and water poverty.
Photo by Jplenio via Freepik
What is energy poverty?
Energy poverty is when communities or countries do not have access to sufficient essential energy services. This results in people in a household having to cut down on their energy usage due to low income, a huge amount of the family income being spent on energy, or a low performance in the energy provided by the appliances and buildings. Another consequence is reduced access to clean water, as water treatment or desalination plants need reliable access to electricity.
In the 2014 Africa Energy Outlook, average per capita electricity consumption in Africa was recorded as low as 317kWh per year. Despite this, only half of the required investments for maintaining a functional power sector, i.e. $45.6 billion, was invested in the power sector between 1990 and 2013. This is a typical example of an energy deficit. Hence, the region needs innovative and sustainable energy solutions soon.
At present, many countries turn to fossil fuels to alleviate energy poverty. To make up for the energy deficit, and at the same reducing dependence on fossil fuels, we need to overcome energy poverty and reduce greenhouse gas emissions at the same time.
Nuclear energy can be a solution to this problem. Many emerging economies turn to nuclear energy to meet their energy needs, attracted by the benefits of nuclear contributing to reduced emissions and improved air quality, and recently needing less infrastructure than new fossil fuel installments. Combining nuclear energy with renewable energy sources can enable an affordable, resilient, and versatile power grid that improves energy security in many corners of the world.
Since modern nuclear reactors don't need much space, compared to solar or wind farms, they can also be built next to load centers, thus avoiding the high transmission costs due to larger distances between population centers. Besides electricity generation, nuclear technology can provide heat for industrial processes, including desalination and chemical processing. Because of their energy density, nuclear plants can replace the coal and natural gas that are used today for industry.
From energy poverty to energy security with the help of nuclear
Nuclear energy is a reliable form of zero-carbon energy that can provide a reliable, long-term energy supply. Nuclear power plants can operate for over 60 years, thus giving ample time for countries to cut back on their dependency on imported energy and diversify their energy mix. This helps poor communities access basic needs like clean water and education, instead of relying on fossil fuels to do the same.
Apart from the reduced climate emissions, nuclear energy is an improvement on fossil fuels from several energy security perspectives:
- Uranium, the fuel used in nuclear energy, is cheap and easy to transport. Much smaller amounts of fuel are needed than for coal or oil. About 30 tonnes of fabricated nuclear fuel is needed each year for a 1GW plant compared to more than 3 million tonnes of coal for the same duration. Since it is portable and tradable, this energy can be stored in power plants for up to two years.
- There is no fear of disruptions in the uranium supply as it is relatively abundant and available among politically diverse countries. Even the cost of fuel used in nuclear energy is a minor fraction of the total generating costs. Hence, the cost of electricity supplied from nuclear plants is predictable in the long run.
- Modern nuclear plants are more resilient, so much so that they can continue to operate during weather conditions like hurricanes and extreme freezing temperatures.
Nuclear energy implemented in the civilian sector is also important for national security and energy diplomacy. It will help governments work with each other to build new relationships and opportunities in the area of nuclear technology, not to forget creating local job opportunities and tax additions worth billions of dollars.
Energy poverty is a serious problem across the world, and reliable access to energy is a significant improvement in the quality of life for many vulnerable people. As we move away from fossil fuels, it needs to be a priority to improve the energy security issues that the supply chains of oil, gas, and coal have caused. Nuclear energy, combined with renewable energy sources that are also being implemented in more and more countries globally, is a secure and reliable solution to this problem.
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Nuclear energy holds great promise for reducing energy & water poverty. Its reliability, efficiency & zero carbon emissions make it a strong contender against #fossilfuels.
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I believe clean nuclear energy can help solve complex challenges.
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@rashid_kamau Absolutely! Clean nuclear energy has great potential to address complex energy and environmental challenges.