| No. |
MYTH |
FACTS |
| 1 |
Nuclear fuel is dangerous |
The likes of the Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima accidents are the three major accidents that have occurred in over six decades of operation of NPP’s globally. As rare as such accidents are, it has led to major safety improvements making current generation of NPP’s more safer. NPP designs have multiple layers of safety hence making them very safe. Nuclear energy is considered to have the lowest mortality rates per unit of energy produced, lower than coal, oil, and even solar. |
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| 2 |
Nuclear Waste Lasts Forever and there’s no way to store it. |
Nuclear waste can be classified according to levels of radioactivity. While the high level waste (Spent Nuclear Fuel) is highly radioactive, technological advances allow for secure containment and storage. The high level waste (HLW) is often stored in spent nuclear fuel pool at the site of the nuclear power plant facility. For permanent disposal, the HLW is stored in a deep geological repository, where it is isolated from the environment. Additionally, advanced reactor designs aim to recycle spent nuclear fuel as usable fuel, reducing the amount and volume of waste. |
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| 3 |
Nuclear Plants emit harmful radiation into the environment. |
NPP designs have stringent control measures to prevent the release of radiation. Radiations from NPP’s under normal operation are minimal and often less than the natural radiation we are exposed to daily. Exposure from nuclear plants are tightly regulated and are much lower than levels that could affect human health. |
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| 4 |
Nuclear Power Plants can explode like nuclear bombs. |
Nuclear reactors are designed completely differently from nuclear bombs. It is physically impossible for a nuclear power plant to explode like a bomb; reactors use controlled, low-enriched uranium, which lacks the configuration and materials for a nuclear explosion. |
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| 5 |
Nuclear energy causes global warming. |
Nuclear energy is one of the lowest-carbon energy sources available. It does not produce CO₂ during operation, unlike fossil fuel plants. By replacing coal or natural gas with nuclear energy, it’s possible to reduce greenhouse gas emissions significantly, helping to combat climate change. |
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| 6 |
Renewable energy alone can replace nuclear power. |
While renewable energy sources like wind and solar are vital, they are intermittent, meaning they depend on sunlight or wind. Nuclear energy provides a consistent, stable output and can complement renewables to maintain reliable power grids. A balanced mix of renewables and nuclear is often seen as a practical approach to achieving energy security and carbon reduction goals. |
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| 7 |
Nuclear Energy is more expensive than renewables. |
While nuclear plants have high upfront construction costs, they produce energy at a low operational cost over a long period. In some regions, nuclear energy is cost-competitive with fossil fuels and renewables, especially for large-scale, continuous electricity needs. |
