Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons, primarily coal, fuel oil or natural gas, formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. Fossil fuels which mainly include coal, oil and natural gas provide the majority of energy needs around the globe. Generation of electricity is one of the predominant uses of fossil fuels. Nuclear energy is the energy stored in the nucleus of an atom. This energy is released through fission or fusion. The energy released can be used to generate electricity.
In Fossil fuel power plants the heat generated is used to generate steam. This steam drives a turbine, which powers a generator that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. Fossil fuel sources are gradually depleting, thus it might lead to an impending global scarcity of energy. nuclear energy is not dependent on external energy sources. Thus, it can be a viable source of generating electricity in the future.
Nuclear energy is created by splitting a uranium atom. The nucleus of an atom is made of protons and neutrons and is surrounded by electrons. When the atom splits, it releases energy in the form of heat. This chain reaction is called nuclear fission
Nuclear energy is cleaner while generating electricity. Nuclear fission provides energy without releasing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. Since nuclear power plants use so little fuel, the volume of nuclear waste is much smaller the volume of waste from fossil fuel power plants. Even though nuclear waste is highly radioactive, its small volume enables safe isolation from society. Combustion of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Nuclear power is economically competitive with coal, and generally considered much cheaper than oil or natural gas.
There are several drawbacks of nuclear energy .
Nuclear power plants have dangerously high radioactive levels. The
radioactivity is entirely contained within the plant, but the
possibility exists that some of it might leak to the outside environment
during an accident .Waste produced by the power plant must be disposed
somewhere, but it remains intensely radioactive for long periods of
time. New nuclear power plant designs take a long time to implement.Uranium is one of the most abundant energy sources on Earth. uranium can be reprocessed and used again. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, are non-renewable. The fossil fuel are about to deplete.
