Comments on: Is Nuclear Power Worth Another Look?

By: Steve Goodman

Steve Goodman — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:24:21 +0000

Using presently available technology thorium is not by itself capable of sustaining a chain reaction on its own as Uranium 235 does. In reality thorium reactors are hybrid reactors that rely on both Thorium and Uranium (U-233) fuel rods. Since the hybrid reactors use less uranium rods, which need to be swapped out every 2 years, in conjunction with the thorium rods, which last about 9 years, waste is reduced, yes, but not eliminated. The extraction process of the spent rods in the hybrid reactor requires much more precision than current uranium only reactors. And Thorium’s by-products produce intense Gamma radiation, which is one of the reasons that makes it less attractive to potential use by terrorists because its so “hot to handle” – but also more hazardous in case of an accident. So you are suggesting a nuclear technology that requires even more precise handling, in an arena where human error has already proven to be dangerous.

Again the major issues to wind and solar are intermittency – and technologies are already in the field that are addressing these challenges. California has already deployed successful Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology. CSP concentrates sunlight using mirrors to create heat, and then uses the heat to create steam and drive turbines and generators, just as in a conventional power station. CSP has been generating electricity in California since 1985 and currently provides power for about 100,000 Californian homes. In addition Waste heat from electricity generated in a CSP plant can be used to create fresh water by desalination of sea water, and since CSP works best in areas like deserts, this is a much more useful by-product than say – something like gamma rays.

Speaking of a Herculean effort on par with “The Manhattan Project” to solve the world’s energy needs – interestingly enough, Japan the target of “The Project” is taking on the challenge with just such an endeavor using Off Shore Wind. Frequent changes in wind strength and direction have been a problem with land based wind farms especially in climates like Japan’s. But Japan is now looking towards the sea, and is planning a network of offshore wind farms to tap into the strong gales of the Pacific Ocean. Vica Abate, Vice President for renewables at General Electric says “On shore there’s plenty of resource. However wind farms have to deal with the wind’s greatest problem—its intermittency. Out at sea, winds are more consistent and at higher speeds. Once we obtain the technology needed, the kilowatts are limitless.”

Good luck in the debate – maybe there is some more info in this post you can use!

As for Fusion – that will be the topic of a future column.

Thank for the comments – and keep reading!

Steve

By: Tony Smith, Writer

Tony Smith, Writer — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 23:36:20 +0000

Interesting article, however the current nucleur fusion experiments were not mentioned. A facility at Invermere California will this spring be focusing a laser with the equivelent power of all the grids in the US on some hydrogen atoms for one billionth of a second. If all goes well 10 times the power used will be produced and bonus no nucleur waste. Currently they will be able to fire the laser only once every 5 hours. When they get that down to 10 times a second our energy problems will be solved.

By: Lauren Fetty

Lauren Fetty — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:28:54 +0000

Thanks for a great article! I look forward to reading it in a debate round and seeing the look on my opponents faces when they think i wrote it myself. Its as if you wrote this with me in mind. It was a wondeful piece of writing as well. Thanks so much. I hope you continue to write on the topic of nuclear energy.

By: Mike Keller

Mike Keller — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 21:40:07 +0000

I wish I was a 7 foot tall world class NBA basketball player. Maybe if I resort to a “Manhattan Project” effort, I will be.

Not possible, no matter how hard I wish it to be.

So too is the case for renewable energy.

The energy we consume completely overwhelms the practical capabilities of wind and solar. Can it help? Sure, but it is not the panacea some in the environmental community tout.

Is nuclear power the “silver bullet” for our energy and climate woes? No, but it can help.

My point: we need conservation, nuclear, coal, natural gas and alternative energy in realistic proportions.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:53:03 +0000

There is a GREEN nuclear technology which can be REAL (needs some engineering development) and is CLEAN, LOW COST, scalable from 100mW to multi GW based on THORIUM. Please take a look at energyfromthorium .com to get a sense of what this is all about

This is real, can be implemented with the proper support and can not only get the US to low to no CO2 emissions from electricity generation, but also is safe and creates almost NO NUCLEAR wastes… It can also raise the standards of living of billions of people with whom we share this precious planet.