Environmental impact of generators: silence of environmental activists and resistance to the construction of new nuclear power units
4 July 2024 14:51
Over the past two years, Ukraine’s energy facilities have suffered staggering losses due to terrorist attacks by Russia, which has decided to force Ukraine to capitulate in a full-scale war. This is not a new tactic, and of course the Ukrainian people do not trade independence for electricity. But there is still a problem: the energy shortage is enormous, as two hydroelectric power plants have been shut down due to significant damage and destruction, 80% of DTEK’s generating capacity and all of Centrenergo’s generation has been lost, and since March 2022, the most powerful nuclear power plant, Zaporizhzhia NPP, which produced 6 GW of electricity, has been under occupation. In 2024, electricity production in the country decreased by about 50% and many regions of our country faced the problem of unstable electricity supply, with blackouts occurring daily and lasting 8-12 hours.
In the context of the energy crisis in Ukraine caused by Russia’s massive missile attacks, government agencies, businesses, industry and many ordinary Ukrainians have been forced to turn to alternative energy sources, including petrol and diesel generators. However, there is an urgent question about the environmental and safety implications of using such generators, as it has its own negative consequences, especially for human health and the environment. Unfortunately, environmental activists, who should be the first to sound the alarm, for some reason remain silent about the damage caused by petrol and diesel generators, while at the same time unreasonably opposing the construction of new nuclear power plants.
Petrol and diesel generators are an excellent device for solving the immediate problem of lack of power supply due to an accident or temporary interruptions, or when it is necessary to carry out work in places without electricity. In particular, they are used for this purpose at nuclear power plants. However, using them for generation on a regular basis is extremely harmful, dangerous and expensive. And although such generators are now a popular means of providing electricity during power outages, they have a huge number of disadvantages:
- Emissions of harmful substances. When fuel is burned in generators, significant amounts of carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), sulphur (SO₂) and other toxic substances are released into the atmosphere. This has a negative impact on human health, especially in large cities, and contributes to climate change and deteriorating air quality, which leads to various diseases.
- Use of low-quality fuel. Poor quality fuel, which is often used in generators, increases the amount of harmful emissions. Such fuel may contain more impurities, which create even more harmful substances when burned.
- The need for regular maintenance. Generators require regular maintenance to reduce emissions and ensure safe operation. However, due to the high cost of this maintenance, many users neglect these measures, which not only leads to increased pollution levels, but can also lead to an explosion of the device.
- Noise that far exceeds all permissible standards. The noise level caused by the generator exceeds 45 dB, which, in turn, exceeds the established sanitary standards, and the round-the-clock “buzzing” negatively affects the well-being and mental health of people, especially in densely populated areas.
- High cost of electricity. Just look at the price of a litre of fuel, including the new excise taxes, and its consumption for, say, an hour of work and do the maths yourself.
One wonders why environmental activists are still silent and who is making money from this Despite all the environmental problems associated with generators, environmental activists continue to oppose the construction of new nuclear power plants in Ukraine. Their arguments are often based on outdated perceptions of the dangers of nuclear power and ignore modern technological advances in this area. The silence of environmental activists regarding the environmental impact of generators looks strange and even suspicious. Perhaps they do not realise the scale of the problem or their activities are aimed solely at fighting nuclear power, despite its many advantages, and only highlight the disadvantages, which, of course, also occur.
Nuclear power plants as a source of clean energy
Unlike petrol and diesel generators, nuclear power plants (NPPs) provide clean, carbon-free energy. Therefore, in the current situation, Ukraine needs to pay attention to the development of nuclear energy as a reliable and carbon-free source of energy. Our country has considerable experience in operating NPPs, and their role in ensuring the country’s energy security is growing. Nuclear power plants do not emit CO₂ during electricity generation, which makes them an important element in the fight against climate change. They are able to ensure continuous production of large volumes of electricity for industry and households on a regular basis, regardless of weather conditions, which is especially important in the context of the energy crisis. Investments in the construction of new power units contribute to the creation of new jobs and the development of high-tech industries.
Of course, I would be biased if I did not mention the disadvantages of nuclear power. The biggest of these is the problem of disposing of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. As of today, they are stored in a spent fuel storage facility and do not cause any harm to the environment. Nuclear power requires high safety and therefore a huge bar of requirements is set for the equipment, and the personnel is very carefully selected, trained and in some matters approached so carefully and cautiously that even the personnel themselves are irritated by such meticulous instructions (but of course they follow them ). All nuclear facilities are regularly inspected by Ukrainian and international regulatory authorities. Some of the personnel working with ionising radiation receive bonuses, special meals and long vacations.
That is why today we must increase the use of nuclear energy, as it will help reduce the negative impact on the environment and ensure the country’s long-term energy independence. Therefore, as a result of the completely destroyed thermal generation and partially destroyed hydro generation, Ukraine is facing an urgent need to build new nuclear power units. In the short term, gas turbine generation may be a temporary solution to overcome the energy deficit, but in the long term, nuclear power development is the way forward. This will help reduce dependence on energy imports and increase the country’s energy independence. Increasing the capacity of nuclear power plants will help to significantly reduce air pollution by reducing emissions of fossil fuel combustion products.
The silence of environmental activists regarding the negative impact of petrol and diesel generators on health and the environment and their resistance to the construction of new nuclear power plants seems unreasonable and even harmful to the country’s energy security and environmental situation.
Yevhen Malyi, PhD in Physics and Mathematics, nuclear energy expert
