Wait What...Nuclear Power has One of the Lowest Deaths per TWh?

Energy has been pivotal in human progress over the past centuries, offering immense benefits. However, energy production is not devoid of drawbacks, impacting human health and the environment in three significant ways.

Firstly, air pollution claims millions of lives prematurely each year, with fossil fuels and biomass combustion being the primary culprits.

Secondly, accidents occur throughout the supply chain—from the mining and extraction of fuels like coal, uranium, rare metals, oil, and gas to the transportation of raw materials, construction, and maintenance of power plants.

Thirdly, fossil fuels are the main contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, the leading cause of climate change. In 2020, fossil fuels and industry accounted for 91% of global CO2 emissions.

While no energy source is entirely safe, presenting short-term health impacts through air pollution or accidents and long-term effects by contributing to climate change, their impact varies widely.

In a hypothetical town of 150,000 people fully powered by coal, at least 25 people would prematurely die each year, primarily due to air pollution. The comparison of death tolls from different energy sources in such a town would be:

• Coal: 25 premature deaths annually from air pollution.
• Oil: 18 premature deaths annually.
• Gas: 3 premature deaths annually.
• Hydropower: 1 death on average per year.
• Wind: One death every 25 years, with a death rate of 0.04 per terawatt-hour.
• Nuclear: One death every 33 years.
• Solar: One death every 50 years.

Are you surprised?

While nuclear energy often raises safety concerns due to low-frequency but apparent accidents, it emerges as one of the safest energy sources when comparing death rates. Deaths from nuclear accidents are minimal, especially when contrasted with the millions of air pollution-related deaths caused by fossil fuels each year. As a vital low-carbon energy source, nuclear energy can significantly contribute to a sustainable energy mix alongside renewables.