{"id":41521,"key":"Limitations_of_nuclear_power_as_a_sustainable_energy_source","title":"Limitations of nuclear power as a sustainable energy source","latest":{"id":1207819,"timestamp":"2025-11-27T22:57:11Z"},"content_model":"wikitext","license":{"url":"https://www.appropedia.org/Appropedia:Copyrights","title":"CC-BY-SA-4.0"},"source":"[[Image:cher.png|thumb]]\n\n{{MOST}}\n\n{{Publication data\n| type = Paper\n| cite-as = Pearce J.M. [http://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/4/6/1173 Limitations of Nuclear Power as a Sustainable Energy Source]. ''Sustainability''. 2012; 4(6):1173-1187. https://doi.org/10.3390/su4061173 [http://mtu.academia.edu/JoshuaPearce/Papers/1698080/Limitations_of_Nuclear_Power_as_a_Sustainable_Energy_Source open access]\n}}\n\nThis paper provides a review and analysis of the challenges that [[nuclear power]] must overcome in order to be considered [[sustainable]]. The results make it clear that not only do innovative technical solutions need to be generated for the fundamental inherent environmental burdens of nuclear energy technology, but the nuclear industry must also address difficult issues of equity both in the present and for future generations. The results show that if the concept of [[just sustainability]] is applied to the nuclear energy sector a global large-scale sustainable nuclear energy system to replace fossil fuel combustion requires the following: (i) a radical improvement in [[greenhouse gas emissions]] intensity by improved technology and [[efficiency]] through the entire life cycle to prevent energy cannibalism during rapid growth; (ii) the elimination of nuclear insecurity to reduce the risks associated with nuclear power so that the free market can indemnify it without substantial public nuclear energy insurance subsidies; (iii) the elimination of radioactive waste at the end of life and minimization of environmental impact during mining and operations; and (iv) the nuclear industry must regain public trust or face obsolescence as a swarm of renewable energy technologies quickly improve both technical and economic performance.\n\n== See also ==\n\n* [[Energy cannibalism]]\n* [[Diverting indirect subsidies from the nuclear to the photovoltaic industry: Energy and financial returns]]\n\n== External links ==\n\n* [http://www.parliament.uk/documents/post/postpn268.pdf POST report comparing energy production plants' lifecycle]\n* [http://stephenleahy.net/2013/03/08/nuclear-energy-and-the-mother-of-all-subsidies/ Nuclear Energy and the ‘Mother of all Subsidies’]\n* Obama's fracked-up climate strategy will guarantee global warming disaster [http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/earth-insight/2013/jun/25/obama-speech-climate-action-plan-disaster1 The Guardian], [https://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/06/26 Common Dreams]\n* [http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/antinuclear-austria-should-lead-the-way-on-nuclear-power/ Antinuclear Austria Should Lead the Way on Nuclear Power] - Scientific American\n\n{{Page data\n| license = CC-BY-SA-3.0\n}}\n\n[[Category:MOST completed projects and publications]]\n[[Category:Nuclear power]]\n[[Category:Energy]]\n[[Category:Energy policy]]"}