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

ZIMSEC O Level Geography Notes: Natural Resources: Energy: Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear power as a source of energy

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