Myths: Nuclear is not a clean energy source #
Fact: A lot of life cycle analyzes show that both nuclear energy are a clean energy source in line with sun and wind.
The UN’s Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) calculate the total negative life cycle environmental impact in points per hourly electricity produced. The total life cycle impact from nuclear is in line to lower than wind power. More important all FAR bellow fossil fuels [1].
This is because nuclear energy are not demanding that of space as the alternatives [2], have a very low CO2 footprint [3], and has relatively low critical mineral intensity [4].
Myths: Japan releases highly radioactive water into the pacific ocean from Fukushima #
The water from Fukushima in Japan is purified water and contains less than 3 grams of tritium and carbon-14. 0.4 grams of carbon-14.
Cosmic radiation naturally forms 150-200 grams of tritium and 5100 grams of carbon-14 annually. In less than 3 hours, the same amount of tritium and carbon-14 is formed as is released into the Fukushima water during an entire year. None of this is a problem.
The World Health Organization’s limit for tritium in drinking water is 7 times higher than the tritium levels in the Fukushima water. In fact, drinking 3.8 liters of Fukushima water is less radioactive than eating a banana.
Read more on: Fukushima waste water
Sources #
- On page 56: https://unece.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/LCA-2.pdf
- How does the land use of different electricity sources compare? – Our World in Data
- What are the safest and cleanest sources of energy? – Our World in Data
- Mineral requirements for clean energy transitions – The Role of Critical Minerals in Clean Energy Transitions – Analysis – IEA
