In the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, nuclear power is still important for reasons such as generating cheap electricity, combating global warming, and providing a reliable source of energy. On the other hand, we also have to consider the risk of radiation leaks and safety concerns. Along with the development of various renewable energy sources, it is essential to manage the safety of nuclear power plants.
In March 2011, an event occurred that shocked the world. A 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit the northeastern region of Japan, knocking out power to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, causing the emergency core cooling system that cools the reactors to stop working, leading to a hydrogen explosion the next day. This resulted in a massive release of radioactive material into the sea and air, a wound that still hasn’t healed two years later. In the aftermath of this event, environmentalists around the world have been calling for a moratorium on nuclear power plants. In 2011, Japan completely shut down its nuclear power plants, and Germany and other European countries have also announced their intention to stop nuclear power generation and invest more in renewable energy. While these efforts to reduce nuclear power generation are taking place around the world, why should Korea continue to use nuclear power?
First of all, nuclear power is the cheapest source of electricity with current technology. The cost per unit of electricity generated by nuclear power is dramatically lower than other forms of power generation. According to Kim Kyun-seop, president of Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, if all of Korea’s nuclear power plants, which provide 33% of the country’s electricity, were to be replaced with thermal power plants, electricity prices would have to be raised by 40-50% and the cost of the additional energy source would be more than $30 billion per year. This would put a serious strain on household finances.
For example, after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, Japan shut down all 50 of its nuclear reactors, but as of April 2013, 50 reactors were still operating, unable to cope with the power shortages and unstable electricity supply and demand. It is sometimes argued that nuclear power generation is not economical due to the cost of radioactive waste disposal, but the unit cost of power generation in Table 1 above includes the cost of nuclear waste disposal. Spent nuclear fuel can be used as fuel once again if it is approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency. If only uranium is used, nuclear power generation will have to stop within a few hundred years, but if spent plutonium is used as nuclear fuel, nuclear power generation can continue for about 3,000 years or more.
Second, there is the issue of global warming. Global warming caused by carbon dioxide is getting worse. If global warming becomes more severe, the icebergs in the Arctic will melt, causing sea levels to rise. Rising sea levels will submerge many island nations, increase deserts, and reduce the amount of land available for human habitation. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which examines the greenhouse gas emissions of each energy source from mining to plant construction to operation, nuclear power emits 10 grams of carbon dioxide to generate 1 kWh of electricity. This is less than one-hundredth the amount of coal (991 grams) and significantly lower than oil (782 grams) or natural gas (549 grams). Nuclear power is essential to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas.
Third is the economic stability of the fuel. Uranium, the fuel for nuclear power generation, is widely available around the world and is not affected by global energy conditions. Oil, on the other hand, is mostly concentrated in the Middle East and can be disrupted in the event of an emergency. Korea does not have a single drop of oil, so it imports expensive oil and uses it for thermal power generation, which is highly affected by the fluctuating global oil prices. In addition, uranium prices are stable even when oil prices are high due to conflicts between countries in the Middle East, such as the Iraq War. Therefore, it is easy to import uranium steadily for long-term power generation.
The main argument against nuclear power is the fear of radiation leakage. Radiation is dangerous, but it can’t be completely avoided. It’s safe to say that radiation is a part of our lives. The important thing is to make sure that you don’t get exposed to enough radiation to harm your health. Humans have been living with radiation since the beginning of time. We receive about 240 millirems of natural radiation per year from the sky, soil, air, and food. We also live with man-made radiation, such as radiation used for medical purposes in hospitals and radiation from nuclear power plants. We receive 30 to 100 millirems from medical chest X-rays and about 600,000 millirems from cancer treatments, but the radiation from nuclear power plants is less than 1% of the total radiation we receive annually.
The government has established a systematic environmental monitoring plan to investigate how nuclear power plants affect the surrounding population and environment and to prove that they are safe. Environmental radiation monitors have been installed in about 10 villages around the plant to monitor 24 hours a day, and thermo-fluorimeters have been installed in about 40 locations to periodically measure radiation levels in the area. In addition, environmental radiation is thoroughly monitored and managed by collecting and analyzing various samples such as air, soil, water, food, and seaweed, and some samples are collected by local residents and analyzed by local universities to jointly confirm that the surrounding environment is safe. In addition, the amount of additional radiation that residents will receive as a result of the plant’s operation is accurately assessed using an internationally used computer program. In Korea, the airborne radiation dose rate in the area around nuclear power plants has never exceeded the range of natural radiation dose in general urban areas since the plants started operating, and the maximum radiation dose that residents can receive is about 0.2 millirem per year, which is much less than the radiation dose from a single X-ray. Therefore, it is safe to say that there is almost no radiation leakage from nuclear power plants.
Korea’s technological level of nuclear power plant construction is world-class, and the safety of nuclear power plant structures in particular can be said to be very good. It is said that the outer wall of the nuclear power plant is about 1 meter 20 centimeters thick, which means that even if a phantom fighter jet crashed into the outer wall at a speed of 800 km/s, it remained intact, leaving only a scratch of about 1 centimeter. Nuclear power plants are only built on very solid ground, and even if an earthquake occurs, they are said to experience one-third less vibration than other buildings. In addition, various technologies have been developed to ensure the safe operation of nuclear power plants, such as technologies that automatically shut down power generation when the temperature of the core rises to dangerous levels, without the need for human control.
This makes nuclear power a very economical, environmentally friendly way to generate electricity. Of course, in a few decades, if a truly revolutionary energy source emerges, such as nuclear fusion power, we will have to start using nuclear power plants less and less, but for now, it is an irreplaceable energy source.
But we shouldn’t blindly believe in the benefits of nuclear power. In the long run, the importance of renewable energy development should not be overlooked. By researching and investing in various renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydrogen energy, Korea can gradually realize energy independence. In addition, we need to be more thorough in safety inspections and management of nuclear power plants to prevent major disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima from happening again.
Energy is the lifeblood of a nation. Nuclear power is essential, but it is not the only one. We should all take ownership of energy through the development of various energy sources and efficient energy management.
