Abstract
Nuclear energy represents a viable choice as an alternate source of energy to fossil fuels and as a means of supplying the energy needed to produce some of the alternate fuels and fuel currencies which are environmentally acceptable. Though the hazards and dangers of nuclear energy are known to be enormous, a world with a population growth of 2–3% per annum (the world population was 2.56×109 in 1950, 4.48×109 in 1980, 6.0×109 in 2000, and 6.8×109 in 2010. It is estimated to be 7.5×109 in 2020) will require more energy at a reasonable cost in order to raise the standard of living of the developing nations, to meet the needs of the growing population, and at the same time to preserve our environment. Though solar energy has the potential of meeting the energy needs of the world, the diffuseness of its power makes the present and foreseeable costs too great to be competitive with nuclear energy on a global basis.
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Roussak, O.V., Gesser, H.D. (2012). Nuclear Energy. In: Applied Chemistry. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4262-2_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4262-2_7
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