Table of Contents
Context
Russia’s attacks triggered fire near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine.
Details
- The Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Ukraine is Europe’s largest nuclear plant.
- Russian troops seized the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant after intense fighting during which shelling caused a fire to break out at a training facility on the site.
- A major catastrophe would have happened if the fire had further spread across the site.
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The Fukushima incident
- In 2011, a massive tsunami triggered by an earthquake, impacted the power supply and cooling system of three Fukushima Daiichi reactors, resulting in a major nuclear accident.
- Despite the quick shut down of the reactors, the radioactive cores continued to produce heat as the cooling system was impacted, causing the meltdown of the entire plant.
- Post the Fukushima accident there was a transformation in the nuclear power situation beyond Japan and plans for scaling up nuclear power were put on hold across the globe.
- In 2008, the U.S. projected an expansion of nuclear capacity to 114.9 GW by 2030.
- However, in 2021, it was estimated that capacity would reduce to 83.3 GW.
- Even on a global scale:
- In 1996, 17.5% of the world’s electricity was from nuclear sources.
- But by 2020, it had declined to around 10%.
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Nuclear Energy Situation in India
- India also cut its nuclear energy ambitions after the Fukushima incident.
- In 2008, it was projected that India would have 650GW of nuclear-installed capacity by 2050.
- However, in 2010 it was said that capacity would reach 35 gigawatts by 2020.
- The total installed capacity currently (2022) is only 6.78 GW.
- India plans to build 10 indigenous reactors along with 28 additional reactors out of which 24 would be imported from countries like France, Russia and the United States.
- Out of 24, six are of the water-water energetic reactors (VVER) that have had multiple operational problems at Kudankulam in Tamil Nadu.
- 12 are said to be imported from the U.S., which includes AP1000 reactors that were abandoned in South Carolina.
- The other six are of the European Pressurized Reactors (EPR) type that France failed to complete in its own country.
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Key Concerns regarding Nuclear Energy
- Cost factor
- With the cost of energy generation from solar photovoltaics and wind turbines reducing significantly, nuclear energy is no longer an economical source.
- If nuclear energy is to be sold at a competitive rate, it should be greatly subsidised by the government.
- Not feasible imports
- An EPR plant that is planned to be imported from France now costs significantly more than what was estimated in 2013, electricity from these reactors would cost a minimum of ₹15 per unit excluding transmission costs, whereas, energy from solar and wind projects costs around ₹4.30 per unit.
- The energy produced from AP1000 reactors would also cost the same as EPR plants.
- Risks associated with safety
- In a country that is densely populated and with less advanced emergency health care facilities, a nuclear disaster could be catastrophic.
- There are also strong protests by the local communities against setting up nuclear reactors.
- Concerns about climate change
- Climate change will further increase the risk of nuclear accidents.
- Apart from the Fukushima incident, a wildfire near the Hanul nuclear power plant in South Korea caused panic.
- In 2020, a tornado caused the shut down of the Duane Arnold nuclear plant in the U.S.
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Conclusion
Considering the high risks associated with nuclear reactors and their high costs, it would be best for the Government to have a relook at its Nuclear Energy Policy as the resources spent on nuclear energy will yield faster results if they are redirected towards other renewable sources.
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