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“Nuclear energy is still an untapped resource for a country like India”. Is this statement true? Justify your answer considering the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy.
Introduction:
India being a major country of the world has a large requirement of energy. Conventionally fossil fuels are being used for this purpose. Alternatively, the country is transitioning to make use of other sources of energy also. In this regard usage of nuclear energy has played a major role and will continue to play it. This is evident by the government’s goal to draw 25% of energy from nuclear power. But now the number stands at just around 2%.
Body:
Technology: Nuclear energy can be defined as the energy present inside an atom of an element. This energy is used in nuclear power plants to harness electricity. Controlled nuclear fission chain reaction is the principle behind it. Presently, India has 22 nuclear power reactors. Among these 18 are Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors(PHWR) and 4 are Light Water Reactors(LWR).
The major difference between these two types of reactors are:
|
PWHR |
LWR |
|
|
Fuel |
Unenriched natural Uranium |
Low enriched Uranium |
|
Coolant |
Heavy Water(D2O) |
Normal water |
|
Advantage |
Does not require fuel enrichment facilities |
Water is used both as coolant and moderator |
Other than these two, India is also planning to build a Fast Breeder Reactor in Kalpakkam. This type of reactors will generate more fissile material than it consumes. This can be used to increase fuel supply.
The location of these reactors are as follows:
|
Location |
State |
|
Rawatbhata |
Rajasthan |
|
Kudankulam Kalpakkam |
Tamil Nadu |
|
Kakrapar |
Gujarat |
|
Narora |
Uttar Pradesh |
| Kaiga |
Karnataka |
| Tarapur |
Maharashtra |
Challenges:
• Safety and management of nuclear reactors poses as serious risk
• Environmental threat is a major drawback of nuclear reactor
• Land acquisition, Relocation of people, societal changes are a reason of concern
• India being a non-signatory of NPT, has faced serious sanctions historically.
Conclusion:
By maintaining the safety regulations effectively, providing required skill development and building robust waste disposal systems India can achieve more in this field because India has rich Thorium reserves which is a fuel for nuclear reactors.
