Nuclear Technology in a Changing World

Nuclear Technology In A Changing World

Leslie D. Anderson

ITT

Reflecting the potential of the birth of a new paradigm in a world where the old paradigm is about to kill us all. The Nuclear Age is approaching a crossroads, a moment of truth. On the one hand, the benefits of nuclear energy are needed more than ever. On the other hand, nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism pose the number one threat to our existence. Will this extraordinary technology continue to be new development, or will we become the victims of its destructive power? A primary factor driving change is the worldwide growth in energy demand. In the past 35-40 years, global energy consumption has nearly doubled, due to population growth, the need to raise living standards, and increasing dependence on energy intensive technologies. The use of coal has slightly decreased, but consumption of every other major energy source has increased markedly. Electricity use has nearly tripled (Maczulak, 2010, p. 25).

Nuclear reactors currently generate electricity for nearly 1 billion people, producing about 16% of the world´s electricity. But nuclear electricity generation is concentrated in developed countries. More than half of the world's reactors are in North America and Western Europe, and fewer than 10% are situated in developing countries - which is nonetheless where this century´s greatest growth in energy demand is projected to occur (Kung, 1990).nuclear energy is clearly re-emerging in a way that few would have predicted just a few years ago. If exploited properly, nuclear power has the potential to reduce dependence on continuously depleting fossil fuels. Uranium is abundantly available in earth’s crust. Nuclear fission chain reactions are self-sustaining and thus only few plants can generate large amounts of energy. Consequently, nuclear fission is capable of managing a steady supply of power thus replacing fossil fuels (Kung & Tracy,...