non-renewable energy

• effectiveness of nuclear power (benefits)

  • Non-renewable energy e.g nuclear power provides instant power as required(1) it can be used to meet demand at peak times e.g. early evening(1)
  • Although uranium is a finite resource nuclear power can supply energy for thousands of years(1)
  • A small amount of radioactive material can produce lists of energy(1) e.g. A lump or uranium can produce 2 million x more energy than the same amount of coal(1)
  • Nuclear power plants are very reliable(1) and can run without interruption for 2 years(1)
  • There are not affected by weather unlike some renewable sources of energy such as wind(1)
  • It does not emit atmospheric pollutants(1)
  • It provides 70% of France’s energy supplies in 2002 so can be every effective(1)
• effectiveness of nuclear power (costs)

  • However if there is a leak then it can be highly toxic causing deaths(1) for example Chernobyl, Ukraine in 1986 OR Fukushima, Japan in 2011(1)
  • Building a power station is very expensive so it is unaffordable to developing countries(1)
  • Storing nuclear waste is extremely expensive so not all countries can afford to use it as a power source(1)
  • There are also security concerns such as terrorist threat further limiting its use(1)