Can nuclear energy be considered as renewable energy?

TSAR JUSTICE YAW JNR

GROUP 5

CAN NUCLEAR ENERGY BE CONSIDERED AS RENEWABLE ENERGY?

Renewable energy is defined as energy derived from resources which naturally regenerate and replenish indefinitely on their own, such as, wind, sunlight, biomass, water and geothermal heat. Nuclear energy, on the other hand, is the energy derived from atoms through fission: a process where the atoms split apart. Fission releases energy, with the use of uranium in most cases, in the form of heat and neutrons.  

Certain factors, such as, nuclear energy being regarded as clean energy and the low carbon emission aspect of nuclear energy, make nuclear energy be considered as renewable.  Bernard L Cohen, a former professor at University of Pittsburg, also made arguments that if the Uranium deposit could be proved to last as long as the relationship between the Earth and Sun is supposed to last (5 billion years), then nuclear energy should be viewed as renewable energy.  

These factors induce a subject of major debate but one must put into great consideration the general definition of renewable energy – energy derived from self-replenishing resources, before taking a stand. Unlike the resources for renewable energy, the Uranium deposit in the earth finite and unreplaceable hence nuclear energy cannot be considered as renewable, according to the definition of renewable energy.

The harmful nuclear waste from nuclear power reactors is another reason why nuclear energy cannot be considered as renewable. The nuclear waste produced is a radioactive pollutant which can cause great harm to the environment. This, of course, goes against the core aim of renewable energy: to protect the environment.

Although nuclear energy may be clean and emit low carbon, I will not classify it under renewable energy due to the fact that it produces waste and is relatively risky.