The role of nuclear energy

Sammanfattning: The societies in Europe have developed enormously in recent decades, and this in turn has led to a greater need for electricity. Large parts of society are electrified and are now one of the most essential parts of the system. Electrification has resulted in more energy sources, which in turn has resulted in even greater emissions that harm the environment. Recently, the world has experienced various climate changes because of the industrialization of society. Therefore, it is essential today to phase out the energy sources that have a large negative impact on the environment to replace them with environmentally friendly ones. Greenhouse gas emissions are the main cause of climate change and will lead to increased extreme weather, such as droughts, floods, heat waves, and storms. This in turn will negatively affect societies, economies, and ecosystems. The rising global temperature leads to melting glaciers and results in rising sea levels. Climate change is affecting ecosystems all over the world and is also threatening biodiversity. Nuclear power has long been a debatable topic because of a couple of accidents in history, which have had devastating consequences on climate and society. In contrast, nuclear power plants are one of the energy sources that have no contribution to emissions during their operation. This work is a literature study which is based on a case study where the results are built on a comparison of nuclear power plants, coal power plants, and wind power plants based on carbon dioxide emissions, air pollution, land use, and waste management. The aim is to answer the question of whether nuclear power plants are an environmentally friendly alternative based on the results reported in the study. The result shows that nuclear power has a significant role in the Swedish and European electricity grid, as it is a foundation for a stable electricity grid. The result also shows that nuclear power plants are an environmentally friendly alternative. The study also shows that future research is essential and has significance. The most common argument against nuclear power plants is the risks in the event of an accident and what consequences they can have. Future research may mean safer operation of nuclear power plants and a reduction in the risk of accidents. The study shows that the survival of nuclear power plants has a significant role and is vital in sustainable work.