Power Applications
Electricity generation is a major application of nuclear technology. This section of the NFF website deals expressly with power generation. But there are other applications of the power of the atom also, which are discussed in a different section at NFF especially dedicated to ‘non-power applications’ of nuclear technology.
Electrical power is a fundamentally essential component for the economic growth of a nation. There is a direct correlation between higher per capita consumption of a nation and greater economic prosperity that it enjoys. Power shortages, on the other hand, affect everything adversely – from household consumers to industries as well as infrastructure, thus affecting economic growth negatively and, therefore, reducing overall employment generation, among several other setbacks for the nation as a whole.
India, with its huge population of 1200 million (in 2011), faces exactly this kind of situation today. The need of the hour is to increase electricity generation at a faster rate, especially because our power requirements are poised for a quantum jump in the coming years. Under this scenario, the power supply-demand gap will widen even further.
Expanded use of nuclear power can help us in achieving the goal of higher prosperity for our citizens in a clean, pollution-free, cost-effective and sustainable manner. Nuclear power does not emit CO2 or other greenhouse gases during power generation and thus helps in protecting the environment. Even when the entire lifecycle CO2 emissions are considered, these are still a small fraction in case of nuclear power as compared to other forms of power generation. The undeniable advantages of nuclear power, coupled with its virtually limitless potential makes it an obvious choice for today and tomorrow. And these are the reasons why we at NFF are so ‘bullish’ on nuclear power!
