Applications
Question 1: Give an overview of nuclear energy policy and nuclear power by country.
Answer 1: In 2005, nuclear energy accounted for 6.3 of world's total electricity production. In November 2007, there were 439 operational nuclear reactors worldwide, with a total capacity of 372,002 MWe. A further 33 reactors were under construction, 94 reactors were planned and 222 reactors were proposed. Among the nations not currently using nuclear power, 25 countries are building reactors or are proposing to do so. A few nations have announced plans to phase out nuclear power altogether, but to date only Italy has done so.
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Question 2: Give an overview of wind power and wave and tidal power.
Answer 2: Wind powerThe available wind energy estimates range from 300 TW to 370 TW. Using the lower estimate, just 5 of the planet and wind tends to blow stronger over open water because there are fewer obstructions.Wave and tidal powerAt the end of 2005, 0.3 GW of electricity was produced by tidal power. Thanks to the gravitational pull of the moon (68) there is 3 TW of tidal energy.
Question 3: Describe solar energy’s potential.
Answer 3: Renewable energy sources are even larger than the traditional fossil fuels and, in theory, can easily supply the world's energy needs. 89 PW of solar power fall on the planet's surface. While it is not possible to capture all, or even most, of this energy, capturing less than 0.02, as seen during the past few years. Japan, Europe, China, the United States and India are the major growing investors in solar energy. Advances in technology and economies of scale, along with demand for solutions to global warming, have led photovoltaics to become the most likely candidate to replace nuclear and fossil fuels.
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