https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2012/06/10/energys-deathprint-a-price-always-paid/#6e1c94f1709b
You should read this. Some key takeaways:
1. Producing energy costs lives; and not just in the developing world.
2. Regulation works; developed country losses to energy production are <10% of developing country losses.
3. Nuclear is amazingly safe if done right (read, regulation).
India's largest nuclear power plant, coming up in Kudankulam, is supposedly Gen III. It could be safe, but who knows? Public trust in government regulatory authorities is so low (and rightly so) that there is no way to be sure that all the safety protocols touted by the authorities have actually been implemented. Indian regulations around nuclear fuel mining, processing and disposable are so pathetic that they cost many lives every year (which we refuse to count).
Yes, solar costs lives too. Panels don't magically drop from the sky. The materials used in solar panel production have lifecycles that involve toxics (most panels have an aluminium frame; bauxite mining is dangerous business). Folks fall off rooftops installing panels. Nuclear energy is dense. When you're installing solar panels over square kilometers to compete with one reactor, accidents are bound to happen.
Besides, solar is new. We haven't even begun to meaningfully process spent solar panels. We don't do a good job managing spent fuel. Let's hope we build capacity to manage the tons of solar panel waste generated annually once solar is mainstream.
You should read this. Some key takeaways:
1. Producing energy costs lives; and not just in the developing world.
2. Regulation works; developed country losses to energy production are <10% of developing country losses.
3. Nuclear is amazingly safe if done right (read, regulation).
India's largest nuclear power plant, coming up in Kudankulam, is supposedly Gen III. It could be safe, but who knows? Public trust in government regulatory authorities is so low (and rightly so) that there is no way to be sure that all the safety protocols touted by the authorities have actually been implemented. Indian regulations around nuclear fuel mining, processing and disposable are so pathetic that they cost many lives every year (which we refuse to count).
Yes, solar costs lives too. Panels don't magically drop from the sky. The materials used in solar panel production have lifecycles that involve toxics (most panels have an aluminium frame; bauxite mining is dangerous business). Folks fall off rooftops installing panels. Nuclear energy is dense. When you're installing solar panels over square kilometers to compete with one reactor, accidents are bound to happen.
Besides, solar is new. We haven't even begun to meaningfully process spent solar panels. We don't do a good job managing spent fuel. Let's hope we build capacity to manage the tons of solar panel waste generated annually once solar is mainstream.