4 ms·
nit: while this is true you cannot pick up enriched nuclear fuel off the ground. You have to process many tons of ore. Overall it's still better but this is no
by readams 7y ago
nit: while this is true you cannot pick up enriched nuclear fuel off the ground. You have to process many tons of ore. Overall it's still better but this is not guaranteed by simply the energy density of fuel rods.
- mrpopo 7y agoAbsolutely, and uranium mining will require more energy over time, as the best sources get depleted. Still, AFAIU, 1) the mining is not the largest energy requirement (security enforcement measures and refining require much more energy and infrastructure) 2) In the golden age of nuclear, it was commonly thought that we would have breeder reactors by now, that would make the fuel processing hundreds of times more efficient, and thus the question would be obsolete... Unfortunately, only India and Russia are still actively working on that technology.