Draft 1: Summary Reader Response

In the article, “How Can Southeast Asia’s Clean Energy Transition Be Sped Up?” Daubach (2019) proposed ways to promote green energy production and the areas that needs to be improved in the region. Moniz, the Chief Executive of Energy Futures Initiative and Nuclear Threat Initiative, mentioned that the region is required to deploy a wide variety of low carbon technologies and solutions to electricity generation in order to reduce emissions. The author also mentioned that Singapore is a land-scarce country that may benefit from nuclear fusion or use hydrogen as a zero-emissions fuel for vehicles and energy storage. In addition, he reported that the usage of coal which is the biggest source of greenhouse emissions has increased in 2018. He added that by improving efficiency requirements will reduce electrical consumptions. The article states that nuclear fusion may benefit Southeast Asia. However, it is not practical for a small country like Singapore to do so because it does not have a strategic location and its not environmentally friendly.

Firstly, the location of a nuclear energy technology is important in a land-scarce country like Singapore. For a nuclear power reactor to be constructed in Singapore, locating a safe site is detrimental given that Singapore is a densely populated country where any disaster that may occur will disrupt the entire economy. In my opinion, given the country's geographical size, the global standard of an adequate safety radius between the facility and the population can never be met. Buildings, roads, houses and economic activity are prohibited within this radius. It is further supported in the article, 'Reconsidering Nuclear Energy In Singapore' Phua (2016) which stated that albeit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 were built on a strategically safe location, safety can never be guaranteed.

Secondly, it produces radioactive wastes. In the article, "Nuclear Power Trend In Southeast Asia and Its Contested Discourses On Climate Change" Manpati (2020) stated that the downside of nuclear power is is the disposal of hazardous radioactive waste, may take up to 50-100 years following the most common method, deep geology disposal. This unnecessary waste will pollute the environment and may harm the biodiversity of earth. Furthermore, researchers are still finding ways to the most viable method to dispose nuclear waste to ensure the public safety and health.

Lastly, it it costly. In the article, "Nuclear Energy Too Slow, Too Expensive To Save Climate" Reuters (2019) states that nuclear energy cost between US$112 and US$189 to generate as compared to solar power which ranges from US$36 to US$44 per megawatt hour. This means that nuclear power is falling behind to renewables in terms of cost and capacity as it was seen as less economical and slower to reverse carbon emissions. 

Although nuclear fusion may seem to be solution to speed up the transition of clean energy, not all countries are blessed with feasible conditions to built one. We should always be well-informed before making any decisions. 

References:

Manpati, T (2020, Nov 9) Nuclear Power Trend In Southeast Asia and Its Contested Discourses on Climate Change Th.Boell

https://th.boell.org/en/2020/11/09/nuclear-power-trend-southeast-asia

Reuters (2019, Sep 24) Nuclear Energy Too Slow, Too Expensive To Save Climate Business Insiders.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/nuclear-energy-too-slow-too-expensive-to-save-climate-report

Phua, D. (2015, Oct 26) Reconsidering Nuclear Energy For Singapore IPScommons.

https://ipscommons.sg/reconsidering-nuclear-energy-for-singapore/

Daubach, T. (2019, July 19) How Can Southeast Asia’s Clean energy Transition Be Sped Up? Eco-Business. 

https://www.eco-business.com/news/how-can-southeast-asias-clean-energy-transition-be-sped-up/



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