7.2F Nuclear power and battery storage (HL) Notes

Nuclear Power: A Non-Renewable, Low-Carbon Energy Source

Nuclear power is a non-renewable energy source that plays a significant role in global electricity production.

It is often described as low-carbon because it emits minimal greenhouse gases during operation, making it a potential solution for reducing carbon emissions.

How Nuclear Power Works

1. Nuclear power is generated through fission reactions, where the nuclei of heavy atoms like uranium-235 or plutonium-239 are split into smaller nuclei.
2. This process releases a massive amount of energy in the form of heat, which is used to produce electricity.

Steps in Nuclear Power Generation

1. Fission Reaction: Uranium or plutonium fuel rods are bombarded with neutrons, causing the atoms to split and release energy.
2. Heat Production: The energy released heats water in the reactor core, turning it into steam.
3. Electricity Generation: The steam drives turbines connected to generators, producing electricity.
4. Cooling and Recycling: The steam is cooled, condensed back into water, and returned to the reactor to repeat the cycle.

Advantages of Nuclear Power

Low-Carbon Energy

1. Nuclear power plants emit minimal greenhouse gases during operation, making them a key player in combating climate change.

High Energy Density

1. A small amount of nuclear fuel produces a large amount of energy.
2. This efficiency reduces the need for frequent fuel extraction and transportation.

Reliable and Constant Supply

1. Unlike renewable sources such as solar or wind, nuclear power provides a steady supply of electricity, regardless of weather conditions.

Long-Term Fuel Availability

1. While uranium is finite, advanced technologies like breeder reactors and uranium extraction from seawater could extend its availability.

Disadvantages of Nuclear Power

High Construction Costs

1. Building a nuclear power plant requires significant investment due to the complexity of the technology and stringent safety regulations.

Radioactive Waste

1. Nuclear fission produces radioactive waste that remains hazardous for thousands of years.
2. Safe storage and disposal are critical but challenging.

Risk of Accidents

1. Although rare, nuclear accidents can have catastrophic consequences, as seen in Chernobyl (1986) and Fukushima (2011).

Environmental Impact of Uranium Mining

1. Mining uranium disrupts ecosystems, contaminates water sources, and exposes workers to radiation.

Thermal Pollution

1. Nuclear plants release heated water into nearby bodies of water, altering ecosystems and affecting aquatic life.

Balancing the Pros and Cons

1. Nuclear power offers a low-carbon, reliable energy source, but its drawbacks, high costs, waste management, and accident risks, cannot be ignored.
2. As countries strive to reduce carbon emissions, nuclear energy remains a controversial but important part of the energy mix.

Lithium in Battery Production: Environmental and Geopolitical Impacts

1. Lithium is a crucial element in the production of lithium-ion batteries, which power everything from electric vehicles (EVs) to renewable energy storage.
2. While lithium is vital for reducing carbon emissions, its extraction, processing, and transportation come with significant environmental, social, and geopolitical challenges.

Importance of Lithium in Batteries

Why Lithium?

1. High energy density → Stores more power in smaller space.
2. Lightweight → Ideal for electric vehicles and portable devices.
3. Rechargeable & Efficient → Used in EVs, smartphones, laptops, and grid storage.

Global Demand

1. EV boom: By 2030, lithium demand is expected to increase 6-fold.
2. Countries like the U.S., China, and the EU are pushing for lithium-based energy storage.

Environmental Impact of Lithium Mining

Water Scarcity & Contamination

1. Lithium is extracted from salt brines or hard rock mining, both of which require huge amounts of water.
2. In the Atacama Desert (Chile), lithium mining uses 65% of local water, harming farmers and ecosystems.
3. Toxic lithium wastewater pollutes rivers and groundwater, affecting communities and wildlife.

Land Degradation & Pollution

1. Open-pit mining destroys ecosystems and releases toxic chemicals like arsenic and hydrochloric acid.
2. In Tibet (China), lithium spills have killed fish and polluted drinking water.

CO₂ Emissions from Processing & Transportation

1. Refining lithium involves high temperatures, increasing carbon emissions.

Sociopolitical & Geopolitical Tensions

Supply Chain Monopoly & Resource Nationalism

1. 70% of lithium is mined in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia (The Lithium Triangle).
2. China controls 60% of lithium processing and refining, making other nations dependent on its supply.
3. Countries are imposing export restrictions to protect domestic industries.

Local Protests & Indigenous Rights

1. Lithium mining displaces Indigenous communities and affects their water sources and land rights.

U.S.–China Trade War & Lithium Wars

1. China dominates lithium processing, while the U.S. and EU seek to develop their own supply chains.
2. The U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (2022) promotes domestic lithium mining, creating tensions with China.
3. China is limiting lithium exports, affecting global battery production.