Description
Book SynopsisProvides a personal yet scientific comparative study of nuclear energy and a spectrum of other energies from a reliability point of view, as well as outlining guidelines for developing energy policies
The Fukushima nuclear accident made people ponder and question nuclear safety again, resulting in national decisions to phase out nuclear power completely. Is this the right decision? Are there better ways to deal with this important issue of the 21st century? Critical Reflections on Nuclear and Renewable Energy examines both the real and unreal potential dangers of nuclear power as well as a range of other energy sources, including coal, oil, gas, and renewable energies like solar, hydro, wind, and wave energy sources.
The book analyzes the pros and cons of a spectrum of energies in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011. It maintains that we should look at nuclear energy from a rational point of view instead of being influenced
Table of Contents
Foreword 1 ix
by Arden Bement
Foreword 2 xiii
by Xu Kuangdi
Preface xvii
Introduction xxi
Part I The World after March 11, 2011 — Ripple Effect of the Fukushima Accident
1 Reliability and Nuclear Power 3
2 Some Flowers Fall, and Again Th ey Bloom 15
3 Different Responses Across the Waters 21
4 Aging and Reliability 27
5 Transparent Management Guarantees Nuclear Safety 31
6 The Need for Quality Control 39
7 Don’t Let Gossip Affect the Safe Operation of Nuclear Power 45
Part II Environmental Protection, Occupational Safety and Innovation — A Spectrum of Energies
8 A Spectrum of Energy Sources 59
9 Facts about Background Radiation 67
10 Human Negligence of Occupational Safety Leads to Numerous Accidents 73
11 When Will Environmental Pollution End? 81
12 Non-nuclear Calamities Are Also Horrible 93
13 Where Can We Find Safe Energy Sources? 99
14 Pick up Our Share of the Energy Cost 111
15 In Search of Innovation in Formulating Energy Policy 121
16 Practice Makes Great 129
Appendix I 135
Appendix II 149
Postscript 157
Additional Reading Materials 169
Afterword 171
Index 173
