Nuclear Power is suddenly the demon of the earth?

[ben]

I've been following this live for the last few days - and there's one thing I don't understand.

Why are many countries suddenly deciding to shut down their plants too / rethink their power policies?

This just seems stupid - it should be no shock to anyone that if you have a massive earthquake and a tsunami attack one of your plants, there are going to be troubles - but what has that got to do with Germany for example, why are they closing down plants?

If a plant isn't on a fault line - surely there are no problems..... ?

 

[dave]

terrorists, now they know how weak they are they might start blowing them up

 

[Eklipze3k]

It's only the older plants that are getting shutdown (pre-1980), and I assume it's just to bring them up to current safety standards as opposed to a permanent closure.

 

[ben]

I don't think that's the reason though - and besides, they are very well protected.

Plus of course they'd end up wiping out all their own people too!

 

[jip0]

nuclear is the only way at the moment though things like wind power or tide power isn't good enough yet to keep up with our energy demands

 

[ben]

It's only the older plants that are getting shutdown (pre-1980), and I assume it's just to bring them up to current safety standards as opposed to a permanent closure.

That makes more sense - though worrying they would run them at below correct safety standards now

 

[Venters]

I don't think that's the reason though - and besides, they are very well protected.

Plus of course they'd end up wiping out all their own people too!

You'd have considered the Pentagon well protected too.

Though I'd think it's probably got a lot more to do with public opinion than anything else.

 

[arc]

It's just public opinion / image.

TBH, we should be using reactors that use thorium as fuel, not uranium - but that doesn't allow the production of plutonium..

 

[rangdo]

It's just public opinion / image.

I always wonder, is it public opinion or media opinion?

So much seems to be driven by the media now, so many times they say "growing public anger" - maybe they should reveal their sources.

 

[blackhart]

Alright mate.
Got told that wind farms use more energy then they give out.
dont know if thats true but thats what i herd.

 

[ben]

I didn't think a wind farm used any energy?

 

[jenks69]

I think it's the amount that goes into producing the farm in the first place, I have read and seen documentories that suggest it's the same as catalitic convertors, the amount of poulution, land destruction and natural resourses used to produce them is far less than the polution created by not having them.......

 

[ChrisUK]

Typical public knee jerk / hippie reaction.

I don't think we run enough / invest enough into nuclear tbh. It's an ideal interim solution until we can crack cold fusion :slayer: .

 

[Focus Owner]

so today they are restarting th pumps using external power.
would have thought it would have had a set of backup diesel pumps as well

 

[ben]

The backup diesel generators either failed or ran out of fuel, I forget which.

 

[Eklipze3k]

I think they were destroyed by the tsunami, or the fuel was contaminated with seawater

 

[Focus Owner]

diesel don't mind water if they ran out of fuel that's daft.
why were they anywhere near water.
why not design for everything why not dig em underground.
cpt hindsight to the rescue

 

[Eklipze3k]

 

[arc]

the fuel tanks where wiped out by the tsunami, the plant is by the sea for plentiful water providings.

It's done well, stood up to a much bigger earthquake than designed for - and to be the hit by such massive waves.

good site detailing what's going on; http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/

 

[Focus Owner]

you can get portable fuel tanks. just get a