India needs nuclear energy, say experts

India needs nuclear energy, say experts | Peak Oil News and

India needs nuclear energy, say experts Nuclear power from 20 reactors accounts for less than 3% of the electricity that India generates: Of the installed capacity of 1.8 lakh MW, just 4,780 MW is nuclear energy, even though facilities to generate 6,700 MW more are under construction. Thermal power dominates India’s energy production, but environmental concerns and a rapid depletion of coal have forced power developers to look for cleaner alternatives, such as gas, hydro-electricity, solar and wind power and nuclear energy, even though they cost more than thermal power. Nuclear power, in particular, costs about Rs 12 crore to Rs 14 crore per MW, compared with Rs 4 crore per MW for thermal power. But the energy generated by the fission of uranium, the fuel, is about two million times more than that obtained by burning coal of equal weight. Accordingly, policy makers want to...

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