Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Nuclear Energy Is Renewable Too

Solar, wind, wave, geothermal, and even biomass, which I have reservations, are considered renewable energy resources as they are inexhaustible. Their usage do not diminish or affect future supplies. In fact, this is the reason for my objection for biomass to be categorized as renewable energy resources for it does not 'renew itself.' Instead it is just replenishable. Continued farming activities and generation of bio-waste makes it available. There must be human intervention to make it 'renewable.'
If biomass is considered as renewable despite the fact that it is just replenishable, then nuclear should also be taken as a renewable energy resource. Spent fuels can be recycled and burned in different types of nuclear reactors to produce energy.
To say nuclear as alternative energy, to bring it conceptually closer to renewable, may also introduce the generally accepted or perceived connotation of the word 'alternative,' which is a replacement. But it is not actually a replacement. It has to contribute, like any other energy resources, complement each other, to fulfill electricity demand. I believe no energy source can 'single-handedly' supply our electricity need. Hence, there is no such thing as alternative energy source. Philosophically speaking...

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