Nuclear Energy and What Happens When Things Go Wrong

Nuclear energy is a comparatively new source of energy. The first nuclear power plant was commissioned in June 1954 in Obninsk, Russia (reference 5). Fossil fuels offer a limited source of energy, as they are non-renewable. Eventually these supplies will cease, this is predicted to be in the next few decades. An estimate based on fuel consumption in America, predicts as early as 2020 there will be no fossil fuels left.
The energy used by the whole world is approximated to be the coal equivalent to 2790 Gigatons per year (reference 9, page 5). Fossil fuels reserves total for the world in 1980 had approximately 8685 Gigatons of coal and 91.2 Gigatons of oil (reference 9, page 5). This is why extensive research has gone into looking for new sources of energy to keep things powered.
Energy sources currently being used are hydroelectricity, wind turbines, solar power, fossil fuels and nuclear power, and now also hydrogen fuel cells. There is much controversy over the health and safety is...