Earlier in March 2022, Pres. Duterte signed an executive order that adds nuclear energy to the country’s power mix and orders the DOE to develop a nuclear power program. The said program will be based on the standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to the Philippine Energy Plan 2018 to 2040.
In the EO, Duterte said that he believes that nuclear power can help bridge the gap between rising energy demand and supply. He describes nuclear power as a "viable alternative source" of baseload power that can address the projected decline of coal-fired power plants.
The EO assigned the Nuclear Energy Program Inter-Agency Committee to conduct further studies on the possible use of the $2.2-billion Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), which was completed in 1985 but mothballed in 1986.
Environment groups, on the other hand, have been consistent in saying that nuclear power should not be considered for the Philippines.
Greenpeace Philippines, for instance, points out that exploring nuclear energy will "burden Filipino consumers economically and expose the country to health hazards, contamination and disaster risks.” It said that there are many unsolved issues surrounding nuclear waste disposal, as well as the inherent safety risks and disasters associated with nuclear power plants.
According to the group, nuclear energy is the most expensive and most dangerous source of electricity. The Philippines will have to spend billions to source fuel, expertise and technologies, all of which will have to be imported overseas, from planning to operations.
Greenpeace says that DOE’s time and the taxes of Filipinos would be put to better use harnessing cheaper, safer, and more sustainable renewable sources, such as solar and wind, which are abundant in the Philippines. These can also be more quickly deployed.
Solar versus Nuclear
Solar energy is significantly cheaper than nuclear energy. According to a 2020 report, the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) to generate 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) of power from a solar farm is an average of US$40 (around P2,000). In contrast, nuclear power plants have an LCOE of US$ 155 (around P7,700) on average to generate the same amount.
The upfront costs and operating costs for nuclear are also massive compared to solar. As prices of solar PV systems are consistently falling, the costs of producing nuclear energy continue to rise.
The cost of solar energy in 2009 was US$ 359/MWh (around P18,000) but has since fallen to US$ 40/MWh by 2019. In contrast, the cost of nuclear energy increased from US$ 123/MWh (around P6,100) to US$ 155/MWh also by 2019.
Installing solar panels has also become less expensive in the last decade. According to one study, installing a rooftop solar energy system used to cost an average of US$ 4,731 (around P237,800) in 2010, but by 2020 has fallen to P44,300 in 2020.
Safety Risks
On the matter of generation capacity, it is true that the capacity factor of nuclear power plants is higher, at least 93.5%. This means that they can operate in full power for 341 days out of every year. Solar farms in comparison have a capacity factor of 24.5%, or 89 full days out of 365 days. This is because solar panels only produce electricity when the sun is out. There are many ongoing research and development efforts now to increase the efficiency of panels to collect energy. Battery storage technology is also developing at a fast rate.
This matter of generation capacity is very negligible, however, when the inherently dangerous nature of nuclear reactors is considered. One only has to remember the massive damage to human life and the environment caused by the Chernobyl disaster (caused by human error) and the Fukushima incident (caused by a natural disaster). There are constant threats to the communities established near or around nuclear facilities, and nuclear accidents and disasters can spread radioactive debris far from their epicenter.
Dangerous Toxic Wastes
It is also a great reason for concern that nuclear facilities generate toxic wastes such as uranium mill tailings, spent (used) reactor fuel, and other radioactive wastes during their normal operations. These remain radioactive for thousands of years. Leaks from nuclear facilities have also been known to happen and they have adverse health effects on those exposed to them for long periods. These materials are subject to special regulations for their handling, storage, and disposal, but in low-technology countries like the Philippines not known for maintaining the highest public safety standards, there are no guarantees that will not come in contact with the outside environment.
In contrast, solar energy is safe as they do not emit any negative externalities. Aside from not producing radioactive waste, solar energy does not emit toxic fumes, so it does not pose a health risk to those around installations.
Sustainability
When it comes to practicality, it is easier and more sustainable to build a solar power plant. It takes at least 69 months to build a nuclear power plant and make it operational, while a solar power plant takes only a maximum of nine months to build.
Finally, on the important issue of sustainability, hands down solar power is more sustainable so long as the sun shines and the panels last 25 to 40 years. Panels do not release harmful substances into the environment, and the energy source is free.
As for nuclear power, it is carbon-free but it is non-renewable. The material used to power nuclear reactors is uranium, and it has to be replaced every three years and then securely disposed of. Uranium has to be mined, and this makes it a finite resource. Mining, in general, is not a sustainable practice.
We all want to have more energy that does not come from fossil fuels to bring down carbon emissions that lead to global warming and exacerbate climate change. While both solar and nuclear power offer a substantial amount of energy without producing carbon dioxide, solar energy is the better option because it's the safer, more sustainable, and less expensive option. The potential human and environmental risks that come with nuclear power cannot be compensated by the expensive electricity it can produce.
The Philippines lies in the middle of the Pacific Rim of Fire --we have active volcanoes, and tsunamis can easily build up during earthquakes. These, however, are not the biggest reasons why we must never resort to nuclear power. The dangers of a nuclear meltdown or leak are too severe to take risks. Nuclear? Never. So, what's a very safe energy source? Solar! It's clean, it's renewable, it's safe, and best of all it's free! #