Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear power as a source of energy

Nuclear Power Plant. Image credit drug-alcoholtesting.co.uk

Advantages

• Very long lifespan as half-life of most radioactive substances is about 4 000 years.
• Has very high energy output.
• Very efficient energy source.
• Relatively clean if precautions are taken.

Disadvantages

• Very dangerous if melt-down and nuclear fall-outs take place.
• Environmentally unfriendly through nuclear radiation.
• Waste disposal is a big problem.
• Producing countries also make destructive nuclear weapons from the fuels.
• Expensive to build and maintain the stations and is also fairly expensive to use.
• Very limited sites for the construction of hot spots.
• Very rigid sites- not a foot loose energy source.
• Highly pollutant to land, air and water.
• Cannot power vehicles.
• Susceptible to destruction by tectonic activity.

To access more topics go to the O Level Geography Notes page