We know you have checked the weather or been outside recently and wondered why it’s almost 100 degrees in the middle of spring. Well, due to greenhouse gases warming the Earth, this is causing increasing temperatures, which play a role in climate change. If you have been living under a rock, you should know there are many forms of renewable energy which include solar, wind, water, and geothermal energy.

People believe that renewable energy is ideal for combating climate change because wind and sunshine are clean and don’t emit smog or carbon dioxide that contribute to climate change. However, there is another alternative that many people look down on because it’s seen as dangerous and expensive, but this might be the solution that our planet needs: nuclear power.

Going Nuclear 

There are four main reasons why nuclear energy should be considered:

1. Nuclear energy generates a large scale of energy with near zero greenhouse gas emissions released during production and is carbon-free, which is the goal in the mission to limit climate change.
2.  Other than being carbon-free, nuclear power generates energy in a quicker way than renewables. The production of renewable energy is dependent on the weather. For example, for there to be solar and wind energy the sun has to be out and wind has to be blowing. Instead of waiting for perfect weather to produce energy, nuclear energy is constantly being produced 24/7. 
3. Nuclear energy is the right choice because it significantly reduces the problem of air pollution, and has other important environmental advantages. 
4. Nuclear power is favorable due to its convenience, efficiency, and cleanliness. Overall, nuclear energy is the right choice as the use of this energy benefits the environment by the use of uranium to produce energy without taking away from renewables. 

Split the Atom, Share the Sky

There are many misconceptions about the use of nuclear and renewable energy, but both nuclear and renewable energy sources are the primary low-carbon alternatives. 

1. Nuclear energy replaces fossil fuels which reduces emissions and provides constant, firm energy, while renewables provide a variety of clean power. Research shows that there is a possibility of both sources of energy to be used together; this is planned to be accomplished with the use of Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems; these hybrid energy systems combine nuclear reactors with renewable sources to generate sustainable and firm energy.
2. The use of Nuclear-Renewable HES doesn’t just have a benefit on the production of efficient energy, but they have benefits on many aspects of the environment. Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems combined with Small Modular Reactors have the potential to meet the needs of a wide range of users and to be a low-carbon replacement option for aging fossil fuel-fired power plants. 
3. Hybrid systems could potentially foster cogeneration for seawater desalination, hydrogen production, district heating, cooling and other industrial applications. Overall, a hybrid energy system combining both nuclear power and renewables can help significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Hopefully by reading this, you have learned about Nuclear Energy, which many people look over. By using this source of energy solo or combined with renewable energy, this could potentially be the solution that we need to help fight climate change!