REFER to ‘Consider nuclear energy’. The Singapore Strategies Committee suggests that Singapore should consider using nuclear energy as an alternative energy resource because the global energy markets are getting tighter. It also indicates that the nuclear technology is advanced enough for easy design and safe operation.
As far as I am concerned, each controversy has advocators for pros and cons and the nuclear issue of Singapore is no exception at all. The increasing need for energy urges Singapore to accelerate its progress in generating electricity and other energy by itself rather than importing from other countries. As the nuclear technology developed, it becomes the most effective and efficient method to produce energy as to reduce the country’s reliance on oil and gas. As limited to its geographic size, the establishment of nuclear power reactor is more practical than solar energy or hydropower station for Singapore. However, recently it has been revealed that Germany, lying around 50 degrees latitude, has installed a solar energy generating capacity of 4,500 MW which is over 10% of our total electricity generation last year which is 100% fossil fuel based. Their share of electricity from renewable energy (solar, wind, hydro, geothermal) is 15% in 2008. The most notable aspect of this sample is that Germany is a very typical cloudy country that is similar to Singapore. This disprove the idea that the cloud cover and the climate will disqualify Singapore as the user of solar energy. Nevertheless, the negative consequences of nuclear energy application cannot be neglected as it may leas to catastrophic effect such as nuclear diffusion. Furthermore, the exorbitant costs needed for the materials to build, generate energy a nuclear reactor and to maintain the reactor may turn into the burden which Singapore cannot afford. After all, I do not think it is an appropriate time for Singapore to adopt nuclear energy as its potential danger maybe a nightmare for Singaporean. Yet I believe one day Singapore will choose nuclear energy as we perfect this technique. Otherwise we may find new energy sources which may be more suitable for Singapore.
I strongly agree with Vivian that it is still not a good idea that Singapore put nuclear energy into use now because there is potential danger. I really appreciate that Vivian did some research and gave us an example of Germany's solar energy usage.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, although nuclear energy has some benefits, Singapore government should consider it carefully as any nuclear accident will completely destroy this small country. Furthermore, due to limit o area, the nuclear power plant cannot be constructed in a very remote place. As a result, health of the residents living near the power plant might be affected by the slight nuclear radiation.Human beings have put many different kinds of energy resources into use. Singapore should consider other safer options such as wind energy and solar energy because safety is extremely important for a small country.
Phyllis