Nuclear Energy on our Oceans
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Student Year and Major
Sophomore, Aerospace Engineering
Presentation Description/Abstract
Transportation is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and the emissions they generate push the planet beyond the safe operating space for climate change, as atmospheric CO2 stands at 417 ppm, well above the 350 ppm limit. Burning fossil fuels emits CO2, which the ocean absorbs and which drives acidification, along with soot and sulfates that form atmospheric aerosols. Large industrial sea vessels such as cruise ships and shipping fraters currently make up 3% of global fossil fuel emissions. This percent excludes large military vessels, some of which produce carbon emissions equivalent to those of a small town. To combat this, energy sources for large marine vessels can be gradually transitioned to nuclear energy systems that have already been tested and proven. In the long run, nuclear propulsion for large vessels, inspired by the NS Savannah and Russia’s Sevmorput, could eliminate combustion emissions at sea. Success would be measured by decreasing transport-sector CO2 and particulate emissions and returning to 350 ppm. While this solution is technologically feasible, it faces many challenges from social and political perspectives. Major barriers include fears of nuclear accidents, the historical economic inefficiency of civilian nuclear-powered ships, oil trade interests, and unemployment in the oil and coal industries. In addition, there are some economic concerns as well. While in the long run, nuclear energy would decrease costs and expenses related to fossil fuels, it can be quite expensive to implement.
Nuclear Energy on our Oceans
Transportation is heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and the emissions they generate push the planet beyond the safe operating space for climate change, as atmospheric CO2 stands at 417 ppm, well above the 350 ppm limit. Burning fossil fuels emits CO2, which the ocean absorbs and which drives acidification, along with soot and sulfates that form atmospheric aerosols. Large industrial sea vessels such as cruise ships and shipping fraters currently make up 3% of global fossil fuel emissions. This percent excludes large military vessels, some of which produce carbon emissions equivalent to those of a small town. To combat this, energy sources for large marine vessels can be gradually transitioned to nuclear energy systems that have already been tested and proven. In the long run, nuclear propulsion for large vessels, inspired by the NS Savannah and Russia’s Sevmorput, could eliminate combustion emissions at sea. Success would be measured by decreasing transport-sector CO2 and particulate emissions and returning to 350 ppm. While this solution is technologically feasible, it faces many challenges from social and political perspectives. Major barriers include fears of nuclear accidents, the historical economic inefficiency of civilian nuclear-powered ships, oil trade interests, and unemployment in the oil and coal industries. In addition, there are some economic concerns as well. While in the long run, nuclear energy would decrease costs and expenses related to fossil fuels, it can be quite expensive to implement.