Nuclear Energy

Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy is one of the current sources of energy prominent in the developed countries. Nuclear power, more than any other source of energy causes more risks such as radioactivity that needs to be considered while putting up a nuclear plant. One instance of such risks occurring is Japan’s nuclear failure caused by the tsunami and the Fukushima Daichi failure. United States and other countries globally can learn several lessons from these incidents in their nuclear energy operations. Some of the lessons include preparations for the unexpected, accident response, preparing for operational response, the design and equipment, nuclear safety and procedures (INPO 9). With such lessons to learn from these failures, countries such as United States that are already using nuclear power as well as those intending to put up nuclear power plants in the future need to consider ensuring high safety measures, as well as emergency response measures for such unexpected incidents.

After the accident in Japan, many of the nuclear power plants are undergoing reviews to ensure their safety level and ability of handling such an incident. There is a need to prepare for the unexpected such as the earthquake that was followed by a tsunami in Japan. This has come to the attention of many countries and international bodies in an effort to ensure that such incidents are kept to the minimum. Currently, many countries including United States and Japan are having unresolved debates over the issue of whether to continue or reduce the reliance nuclear power as a source of energy. In a survey in Japan after the Daichi accident, majority of people support reduction of reliance on nuclear energy (Pew Research Center 2012). This has not only affected Japan but other countries as well that have realized the need for extra safety measures and recovery plans for incidents.

Although many have held the thought that developed countries can handle and maintain nuclear energy safety, it has dawned that accidents of high magnitude could still occur. One of the effects of the Japan nuclear accident in Fukushima Daichi is the need for higher safety levels in nuclear power plants. This has led to international nuclear energy bodies conducting stress tests for nuclear energy in countries already using it. According to the UN News Centre, several forums have been held to discuss the application of the lessons learnt (2011). One of the effects of the accident is an agreement for the stress tests of nuclear power plants in all the countries having active nuclear activities. This affects all nuclear power plants that have to go through the stress test to ensure safety. This requires all nuclear power plants to review their safety measures as well as improve them to avoid such accidents (Pew Research Center 2012).

Within the current nuclear plants during the usual periodic reviews, any indication of a conditions that could cause a significant reduction in the safety margin or likely to exceed the existing safety design measures, an action has to be taken immediately (INPO 9). For instance, Japan had prepared the plant for tsunami based on previous tsunamis such as the 1960 Chilean earthquake that caused 3.1 meters tsunami, the largest ever seen in Japan in 1960. However, tsunamis kept increasing their height in recent years, where they reached 5.7 in 2002 and 6.1 in 2009. Although the tsunami increased to this height in 2009, it was not formally recognized as the margin to base the safety margin. However, the engineers adjusted the seawater pump elevation in 2002 and 2009 after these tsunamis to avoid flooding in other tsunamis. Japan went on to increase the safety of the plant as new data concerning new earthquakes and tsunamis came in. however, they failed in postulating the magnitude of an earthquake in Fukushima. Therefore, they were not well prepared when the earthquake and tsunami occurred. These calls for all the nuclear power plants to take precaution and anticipate what may not be expected. Nuclear power plants should prepared beyond what is designed, with measures to contain such messes.

Additionally, new policies require that the implications of the potential risk be assessed in order to warn the human resource and take the necessary measures needed to keep the people within the area alert or make plans for evacuations if need be (INPO 10). These safety measures were not as strict as they are now after the Fukushima Daichi accidents. Moreover, the current nuclear plants have to ensure they have countermeasure programs put in place for dealing with such issues in case they occur. Considering that previous accidents and incidents posing danger to the nuclear plants such as the earthquakes have been used to set the basis for safety, this accident is currently the biggest ever witnessed and will continue to be used as the basis for setting up the safety measures. Current plants must seek to meet the new standards that will be implemented while in future nuclear plants will not be allowed to go below safety measures that contain such as an event. This poses a challenge to the nuclear industry since it will require quite an effort to put up all the measures required for containing such as situation. This might see a few power plants close down temporarily or permanently depending on their conditions.

The accident did not only affect the current nuclear power plant, but future nuclear power plants as well. The nuclear reactor plants were set to increase at a steady rate before the accident happened in Japan. Many countries had plans underway to start producing power from nuclear sources. However, the accident has halted all such plans of establishing new nuclear power plants. Considering the magnitude of the accident, most of the national and international bodies of nuclear energy came together to set up new policies that would ensure to maintain safety of the people. In future nuclear plants, very many measures will have to be put in place, those that go beyond design-based event. It is clear that normal operations and procedures are in no position to handle such an event.

Therefore, future power plants will need to have measures that are put in place for events that go beyond design-basis accidents and events. One example is having extra measures for response in case of such an accident (INPO 11). A part from operational procedures, other preparations must be put in place to ensure that response is adequate and provided timely. What is required for future nuclear power plants is the ability to anticipate and calculate potential risks to the greatest accuracy as possible. Although Japan had anticipated this event, it was not to such a great magnitude. Additionally, it did not hit the expected area. This made it even harder to contain the situation since it had not been anticipated (Jaskow, Sloan and Parsons 4). With accuracy in anticipating for such events, preparations can be made to take care of any damage. Additionally, for such events, it turns out that thorough training is essential for handling extreme cases. The most important operations that would cause the greatest danger such as core cooling that must be kept constant. This being one of the main differences between nuclear and other kind of energy sources, lack of cooling would result in overheating after the shutdown of the nuclear reactor (INPO 12). In future, nuclear power plants will be required to have enough extra cooling equipment that could handle a significant amount of the cooling to ensure that emergencies will be well taken care of. Additionally, future nuclear power plants will require assessing their plants and operations according to the set policies to ensure that all safety measures are put in place.

Additionally, a part form putting measures for preventing and containing such as situations, plants will require to establish response strategies that can respond to any emergency within the least time possible or within time that would ensure no damage (Nuclear Energy Institute 2012). Additionally, putting up a nuclear power plant in the future will require quite an effort from any government or organization to regain the trust o people considering they fear for such an accident claiming lives. Ensuring to put up safety measures and response strategies in case of such incidents will have quite an influence in the future nuclear energy power plants establishment (Jaskow, Sloan and Parsons 4). Additionally, for countries that are developing and wish to establish nuclear power plants within their borders might find it compromised and questioned by international bodies such as United Nations for the fear that such countries may not have the necessary ability of maintaining a nuclear plant with adequate safety measures.

It is clear that nuclear power has lost its trust from a significant number of people worldwide including Japan from the accident that posed a great threat to the people. This requires current and future nuclear power plants to take extra precautions and implement more safety measures and response strategies. The accident has resulted in a review of many of the nuclear plants to ensure they are safe to handle such unexpected events. Although many of them at the time of the accident were not in such a position, current policies are putting up new regulations that will ensure the safety is beamed up.

Work cited

Jaskow L. Paul, Sloan P. Alfred and Parsons E. John. The Future of Nuclear Power after Fukushima. February 7, 2012. PDF. The authors present an overview of the issues that are arising concerning the nuclear energy following the accident in Fukushima. The authors analyze the impact of the accident on the nuclear energy industry.

INPO. Lessons Learnt from the Nuclear Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. 2012. PDF. This is an account of the lessons that have been learnt from the accident in Fukushima, which are laying the basis for the new measures that will ensure the safety of the nuclear power plants.

Nuclear Energy Institute. Safety: U.S. Nuclear Energy Industry Responds to Accident in Japan. February 2012. WEB. November 22, 2012. In this article, the institute explores the response of the Americans after the accident in Fukushima. The Americans responded by beaming up their safety within the nuclear power plants. Additionally, Americans are conducting thorough reviews of the nuclear plants.

Pew Research Center. Japanese Wary of Nuclear Energy. pewglobal.org, June 5, 2012. Web. November 22, 2012. After the accident, many Japanese started to worry over the reliance on nuclear power as a source of energy. Majority, about 70% support a reduction in the reliance on nuclear energy.

UN News Centre. Vital that lessons are learned from Japanese nuclear accident, says UN official. un.org, 2011. Web. November 22, 2012. In this article, the United Nation explores the lessons for the world to learn from the accident in Japan.

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