NUCLEAR POWER

Canada Should Increase Its Reliance on Nuclear Power Because It Does Not Emit Carbon Dioxide or Other Air Pollutants



Canada Should Increase Its Reliance on Nuclear Power Because It Does Not Emit Carbon Dioxide or Other Air Pollutants

Introduction

Considerable efforts are recently put forward by the Canadian Nuclear Industry for creating clean sources of energy in the country. It is important to analyze the risk, cost and benefits that are in relation with adoption of the nuclear energy. Therefore, a life cycle approach is essential for evaluating such advantages in this regard. It compares association of risk with different energy technologies, which provides a basis for comparative analyses. Also, it represents the trade-off between different types of risk that may result with adaptation of such method and technologies (Mamay, 2008).

Nuclear Power in Canada

The initiation of the nuclear development in Canada begins from 1944, considering the first proposal of generating energy using heavy water as a moderator in nuclear reactors. Team of engineered design this proposal and presented it in Montreal, Quebec. For developing peaceful uses of nuclear energy, government of Canada established Atomic Energy of Canada (AECL) in 1952. The first Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactor was introduced in 1950s incorporation with the Canadian industry. Heavy water (deuterium oxide) is acting coolant using natural uranium for producing energy. The CANDU reactors increase economic efficiency by lowering down fuel cost since, uranium does not follow any enrichment process resulting in minimal downtime for refueling and maintenance.

In 1971, the first commercial CANDU reactor stated its operation in Pickering, Ontario. By 2008, electricity production from CANADU reactor of Ontario raised up to 53 percent resulting in economic welfare. Evolution and technological advancement in CANADU reactors are a continual process. Engineers are performing various experiments for progression of CANDADU reactors from generations. Latest development in the CANADU reactor is the enhanced CANADU 6 based on Qinshan in China and ACR-1000; the next generation advanced CANADU Reactor. Moreover, nuclear plant of Darlington became functional in 1993. This plant incurred a major cost of construction because of the political interference.

Decline of Nuclear Power in Canada

Canada is equipped with twenty two CANADU power reactors. Twenty reactors are in Ontario, one in Quebec and one functioning in New Brunswick. These reactors are sufficient enough to produce approximately 41 percent electricity on Ontario, 2.5 percent electricity in Quebec and 23 percent electricity in New Brunswick. In 2003, Canadian nuclear reactors went under serious crises. Out of twenty reactors in Ontario, eight of them were shut down for more than five years. Three of those reactors were restarted after new re-tubing in the end of 2004. These reactors are expected to reach at the end of their operational life in next fifteen years. Furthermore, Bruce Nuclear Generation Station is also under refurbishment plan because of its operating inefficiency. Economic Impacts of Canadian Nuclear Industry (Winfield & et al, 2006).

Canadian Nuclear industry has a significant impact upon the economy of this state. It is considered to a major part of nation's ...