Analysis of Energy Sources
Colorado Technical University
Purpose
The purpose of this report to determine which electricity generation, coal power plants or nuclear power plants, will be better for human sustainability. Not only for human sustainability, but also for the environment as a whole.
Introduction
Every home and business uses electricity. It is used from sun up to sun down whether it is lights, televisions, appliances, office equipment, office equipment, computers and the list goes on. It is also becoming a common thing to see electrically charged vehicles. With this report, I will attempt to determine whether it will be better to use coal or nuclear power plants to continue to generate electricity.
Hypothesis/Predicted Outcome
Coal is better to use though the biggest concern may be there pollution is causes, it does not have the threat of radiation leaks which can cause danger to human sustainability.
Methods
To do this report and fill in the chart below I used the Lab 4 Sources from M.U.S.E., which show each energy source the amount of coal and uranium used. It also shows the outcome of CO2 emissions, sulfur dioxide emissions, radioactivity, solid wastes and accidents that come from each energy source within a year’s time.
Results/Outcome
| Energy Source | Fuel (Coal)/Uranium Needed (tons) | CO2 Emissions (tons) | Sulfur Dioxide and Other Emissions (tons) | Radioactivity mSv (millisievert) | Solid Waste (tons) | Accidents |
| Coal Q1 | 625,000 tons | 1.75 million tons | 75,000 tons | 0.25 mSv | 150,000 | N/A |
| Coal Q2 | 1.25 million tons | 3.5 million tons | 150,000 tons | 0.5 mSv | 300,000 | Health Impairments |
| Coal Q3 | 1.875 million tons | 5.25 million tons | 225,000 tons | 0.75 mSv | 450,000 | Worker fatalities |
| Coal Q4 | 2.5 million tons | 7 million toms | 300,000 tons | 1 mSv | 600,000 | Fire Destruction |
| Nuclear Q1 | 18,750 coal 7.5uranium | 52,500 tons | 0 | 0.0025 | 62.5 | N/A |
| Nuclear Q2 | 37,000 coal 15 uranium | 105.000 tons | 0 | 0.005 | 125 | N/A |
| Nuclear Q3 | 56,240 coal 22 .5 uranium | 157,500 tons | 0 | 0.0075 | 187.5 | Accidents: minor emissions |
| Nuclear Q4 | 75,000 coal 30 uranium | 210,000 tons | 0 | 0.01 | 250 | Catastrophic releases leading to radiation sickness death and environmental contamination |
Discussion/Analysis
After really studying this report I am still inclined to think that coal would be the right choice. Though we use more coal each quarter in coal plants, and CO2 and Sulfur Dioxide emission are extremelyhigher than that of the nuclear plants, the potential danger of the nuclear plants to civilization is more detrimental. All it would take is a natural disaster like in Fukushima, Japan wherean earthquake and tsunami triggered the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. (Fukushima, n.d.). It will benefit out world greatly not to use either source but to continue to research renewable resources for the electricity that we use.
Fukushima on the Globe. (n.d.).What’s Happened? The Nuclear Accident. Retrieved June 14, 2015 from
- Resources
http://fukushimaontheglobe.com/the-earthquake-and-the-nuclear-accident/whats-happened#sthash.bBnkQUv2.dpufhttp://fukushimaontheglobe.com/the-earthquake-and-the-nuclear-accident/whats-happened#sthash.bBnkQUv2.dpuf
M.U.S.E. (2010) Lab 4: Analysis of Energy Resources. Retrieved June 14, 2014 from
https://campus.ctuonline.edu/courses/SCI203/p4/hub1/hub.html
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