Compare and Contrast Essay on Nuclear and Solar Energy

Introduction

The need for energy for development and industrialization has seen the use of fossil fuels dominating human activities for many years. The continued use of fossil fuels, however, has been attributed to the increasing levels of water, soil, and atmospheric pollution, which are negatively impacting the environment. Additionally, fossil fuels like crude oil and coal are facing the threat of exhaustion due to extensive mining. It is apparent that a quick solution is needed to ensure that people's energy needs are met without sacrificing the cleanliness of the environment. Solar and nuclear power are two clean and practical approaches that are in use around the world today. They are tried and tested methods that have been in use for a long time and hence their features are well understood. Some significant similarities and differences attract people towards either choice as we will see in this essay.

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Similarities

The most significant similarity between solar and nuclear energy is their minimal carbon footprint. The levels of pollution caused by using these two sources are very low hence the environment is not negatively affected. In nuclear energy, the only emissions occur in a secondary process in the nuclear fuel cycle thus greenhouse emissions are dramatically lowered. Solar power only uses panels with photovoltaic cells to harness the sun's energy hence there are zero emissions. These two sources are therefore environmentally friendly. However, the process of creating nuclear power ends up producing radioactive waste which is an environmental hazard. Used solar panels are also an environmental hazard since they contain chemicals like lead and arsenic among others. The compounds are not harmful when the panel is working, but if wrongly disposed of, the toxins could leak into the environment.

Producing both nuclear energy and solar energy is expensive. Nuclear power is a costly undertaking, and hence these facilities are often found in developed countries. Constructing the large reactors is expensive since they are the wall that locks in the deadly radiation. They must be very well built since the slightest mistake could be quite disastrous. Nuclear plants use a process where uranium atoms are split to produce heat that boils water to release steam. The steam drives the turbines that generate electricity. This lengthy process involves many expensive parts and processes. Solar farms are costly to set up since they require a massive amount of panels. Many panels are needed to harness a significant amount of energy since they do not convert the energy efficiently. They can run into millions of dollars to set up apart from the small-scale buyers who buy for home installation and other purposes. The cost of setting up a solar farm may be lower than that of a nuclear reactor, but it is still an expensive undertaking

Differences

Solar energy is a renewable source while nuclear is non-renewable. Solar energy is sustainable because it only requires the sun's presence to function. It does not contain any elements except the photovoltaic solar panels needed to absorb the sun's rays and convert them to electricity. As long as the sun shines, solar power will always be available. Nuclear energy, on the other hand, is non-renewable since it requires a mineral for its production. The energy is obtained from the fission of either thorium, plutonium, or uranium which is the most common. It is said that there are tons of uranium deposits on earth, but it is a mineral and can still be exhausted over time just like fossil fuels since its consumption is steadily increasing.

Solar energy is a safe source while nuclear energy poses grave risks. Solar energy application is safe since it only requires the construction of a solar station consisting of many panels. Small individual panels can also be installed directly in homes without any risk to the users' safety. Nuclear power is fuelled by radioactive materials which are deadly pollutants. The nuclear reactors are also sitting time bombs due to the massive amounts of energy and its radioactivity. Accidents like the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine are a constant reminder of the security threat of nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy can be produced at any time and under any conditions at a constant level of output while solar keeps fluctuating. Solar energy relies on the sun's radiation hence it does not work at night or during an eclipse. On cloudy days, it may work, but the output is significantly lowered. Nuclear reactors are not affected by the weather, and they produce energy as long as the raw materials are available.

The maintenance costs of a nuclear facility are higher than those of solar. The solar panels require very little maintenance throughout their lifetime. Nuclear facilities, however, need constant monitoring to ensure that all the moving parts are in good working condition. Disposing of the nuclear waste is also an expensive procedure.

Nuclear facilities also produce way more energy than solar panel farms. Nuclear power can be distributed to many people since the quantities produced are massive.

Conclusion

Solar energy is clean save for the disposing of cells which can be easily managed. Nuclear is also clean except for the issues of radioactive waste. Both approaches do not lead to carbon emissions. However, there are numerous differences between nuclear and solar energy that make each unique to its intended purpose. The application of these two energy sources will continue advancing in the future as the world moves towards sustainability.