Nuclear Energy & Fuelwood | Geography for GCSE/IGCSE - Year 11 PDF Download

Nuclear Energy & Fuelwood

• Nuclear fuel has the potential to provide large amounts of energy
• It is often used in countries that do not have their own supplies of fossil fuels, such as France

• In 2019, around 4% of the global primary energy supply came from nuclear power
• There are 439 active nuclear reactors worldwide. The majority of these are located in just five countries:
  • USA (92)
  • France (56)
  • China (54)
  • Russia (37)
  • Japan (33)

Nuclear Energy Controversies

• Nuclear energy is a contentious topic primarily due to concerns related to waste disposal and the occurrence of nuclear accidents.

Three Mile Island Incident

• The Three Mile Island incident took place in the USA in 1979, involving a partial meltdown of the nuclear reactor.
• Following the incident, there was a slight increase in cancer rates in the affected area due to the release of radioactive contamination.

Chernobyl Disaster

• Chernobyl, located in what is now Ukraine but was then part of the USSR, experienced a catastrophic reactor explosion in 1986.
• Approximately 50 direct deaths were reported according to UN estimates.
• An estimated 4000 individuals have either died or are expected to die as a consequence of exposure to radioactive materials.
• The radioactive fallout spread across a vast region, including Scandinavia and the UK.

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster

• In 2011, the Fukushima nuclear reactor in Japan failed following a tsunami triggered by an earthquake.
• The flooding caused by the tsunami resulted in a loss of power at the power station, leading to the inability to cool the reactor.
• Subsequently, explosions occurred, the reactor melted down, and radioactive contamination was released.
• As a consequence, 154,000 people were evacuated from the area.
• Since 2011, there has been a noted increase in thyroid cancer cases in the region, potentially influenced by the implementation of a post-event screening program.

Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy

Fuelwood

Overview

• Over 2 to 3 billion individuals globally depend on fuelwood for heating and cooking due to limited access to other energy sources.
• Roughly 13% of the global population lacks electricity, a prevalent issue in Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.

Key Points

• Fuelwood is often utilized as a biofuel, sourced from trees not specifically cultivated for heating and cooking purposes. This practice lacks sustainability as trees are not replanted after being felled.
• Reasons for the reliance on fuelwood include its cost-effectiveness, simplicity, and potential renewability if trees are replaced, requiring no advanced technology for utilization.
• However, drawbacks of this reliance are significant:
  • Contribution to deforestation, soil erosion, and desertification in various regions.
  • Annual wood harvesting surpasses replanting rates, leading to depletion in many areas.
  • Scarcity of wood results in increased distances traveled by individuals to gather it.
  • Indoor pollution from fuelwood usage causes health problems, with an estimated 1.5 million deaths annually in LEDCs attributed to smoke exposure.

Case Study: Nepal

Nepal's Profile

• Classification as a developing nation situated between China and India
• Characterized by a mountainous terrain encompassing a significant portion of the Himalayas
• Predominantly rural populace with only 16% residing in urban areas
• Experiencing a low but increasing energy demand due to ongoing development

Energy use comparison between Nepal and the UK:

Energy mix

• Primary energy source for 82% of rural Nepalese population: fuelwood
• Urban regions rely on fuelwood for 36% of energy needs
• Nepal lacks indigenous coal, oil, and gas reserves, necessitating importation
• Hydropower serves as the source for 98% of Nepal's electricity generation

Energy Mix in Nepal:

Sustainable future

• Access to electricity has significantly increased in Nepal over the past 15 years, with 88% of the population now having access to electricity.
• Support from the World Bank has played a crucial role in attracting more investment in hydropower projects in Nepal.
• Currently, there are over 3000 micro-hydro plants operating in Nepal.

Ruma Khola Micro-Hydro Plant

• Completed in 2009, the Ruma Khola micro-hydro plant stands as a significant achievement.
• It provides electricity not only for the town of Darbang but also for five neighboring villages.
• The plant's impact extends to powering 22 different industries, including metal workshops, furniture manufacturers, cement block manufacturers, a noodle factory, poultry farms, and dairy farms.
• Funded through grants from the government with support from the World Bank, the community-built and operated plant has improved living standards.
• The loans for the project are repaid through community payments for electricity, leading to reduced reliance on kerosene and fuelwood, lower emissions, and decreased deforestation in the region.