Nuclear Energy: A Viable Solution for UAE's Electricity Needs - Essay Sample

Introduction

For the world to safely decrease its carbon emissions, there is a need for nuclear power. Nuclear power utilizes nuclear reactors to produce nuclear energy, which generates heat used to run steam turbines to produce electricity. There is a need for more electricity in the UAE for uses such as manufacturing, construction, and healthcare. While people often cite it as a threat to the environment because of the production of radioactive fuels and waste disposal, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation noted that it is a "safe, clean and proven technology, it is commercially viable, and it delivers significant volumes of baseload electricity with nearly zero emissions" (Nuclear Energy, 2020). Nuclear energy has various benefits, including low greenhouse gas emissions and high power output that despite the drawbacks of potential catastrophes and high building, maintenance, and decommissioning costs.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Background

Nuclear power is an efficient, low-carbon source of baseload energy compared to other sources of power. With more advancements to the world, nuclear power will be called for to meet energy consumptions out of various industries and technologies. The UAE is among the rapidly growing countries with various industries, from IT and communications to manufacturing and healthcare, and this history has called for alternative sources of power (Nuclear Energy, 2020). Starting the first nuclear power plant will be a breakthrough despite some drawbacks.

Discussion

Nuclear power is important for its low greenhouse gas emissions. Contrary to the public outcry of radioactivity, it is safe, clean, viable, and produces almost zero emissions (Nuclear Energy, 2020). Other sources of power other than nuclear energy have been cited to produce carbon dioxide that destroys the earth's atmosphere. However, according to (Renewable Resources Co., 2016), "nuclear energy produces more clean-air energy than any other source." Little waste is dumped into the air as the smokestacks from the cooling towers release vaporized water.

Nuclear energy could also be a rampant source of power because of its high power output. According to (Renewable Resources Co., 2016), Nuclear energy has a "high fuel to power output ratio." The implementation of nuclear energy in the UAE will lead to various benefits to the country for the intense demands for both the city and industries. Besides, the energy can only utilize a small input in the form of uranium to produce high power compared to other sources such as solar and wind.

Nuclear energy presents with its various calamities. Nuclear Power (2020) believes that "large-scale accidents can be catastrophic." Therefore, public safety is at risk as soon as nuclear energy is effected. Most power plants are placed at strategic positions away from human activities to prevent such accidents. One of the historical records of nuclear energy is the Fukushima incident in Japan in 2011, which led to irreversible environmental impacts (Renewable Resources Co., 2016).

Nuclear power plants are also costly to build and safely decommission. According to (Nuclear Power, 2020), costs are among the major hindrances to set up and decommission nuclear power plants. The maintenance costs also remain high despite the cheapness and efficiency presented during their operations while generating electricity. Besides, nuclear power plants demand high fuel handling that could be difficult for the UAE to meet.

Conclusion

Nuclear energy has the potential to serve the UAE well because of the low greenhouse gas emissions and high power output that outweigh potential catastrophes and high building, maintenance, and decommissioning financial demands. The demand for more electricity for various uses and the country's development calls for the beginning of operations of the new nuclear power plant. In the future, various cons should be addressed, such as maintenance costs and high fuel handling to make the nuclear power plant even more effective and recommendable to other developing nations.

References

Nuclear Energy in The UAE. (2020). Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from https://www.enec.gov.ae/discover/nuclear-energy-in-the-uae/

Nuclear Power. (2020) BBC. Retrieved April 18, 2020, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zyqnrwx/revision/2

Renewable Resources Co. (2016). Nuclear Energy: Pros & Cons. Renewable Resources Coalition. https://www.renewableresourcescoalition.org/nuclear-energy-pros-cons/