In News

The government has accorded approval for setting up the largest nuclear power generating site at Jaitapur in Maharashtra with a total capacity of 9900 MW.

About Nuclear Power

• Nuclear power is clean and environment friendly, apart from having a huge potential to ensure the country’s long term energy security on a sustainable basis.
• So far in the Indian context, the nuclear power plants have generated about 755 Billion Units of electricity saving about 650 Million Tons of CO2 emission.
• The present installed nuclear power capacity in the country is 6780 MW.

Concerns

• The local population is against the project and is of opine that it is hazardous and it will impact the entire Konkan coastline.
• The world has rejected nuclear energy. Even the French Government in the Process of Decreasing its Dependence on Nuclear Energy. Increasing focus on the solar park could offer an alternative to fulfil India’s increasing energy needs.
• It might be difficult to find a potential electricity buyer if the rates are not low enough, given the alternatives that will be available in the times to come.
• Besides the technological challenges, ironically, nuclear power’s unique capability among low-carbon generation to generate at full output is not necessarily an advantage in today’s energy ecosystem.