Most of us do not think about the energy we use to get energy. This area of study that comes in different guises is commonly know as net energy analysis. This becomes important when energy production systems consume almost as much or even more than they ever produce. High latitude solar and temperate latitude biofuels being good examples where the net energy, i.e. the energy available to us, approaches zero (energy return over invested: ERoEI~1). Mandates, targets and laws are effectively squandering resources. In this post I take a look at the energy balance of uranium mining in Namibia. The ERoEI is dependent upon the reactor technology used. Light water reactors indicate the ERoEI for uranium mining to be >>300-400 and in a fast neutron reactor >17,380. These numbers compare with conventional oil ~ 20 and oil sands ~ 3.
The ERoEI of Mining Uranium
So. I should invest heavily in Uranium mining operations? (or fast neutron reactor makers?). I expect I could just “follow the (Clinton Foundation) money” as the saying goes … although that might put me on the FBI’s surveillance and FISA Court lists
Math is hard. That’s why the PR departments of politicians pimping green theocracy otherwise known as journalists don’t do math. All they need to know is Fossils-bad, Nuclear-scary and bad, hydro-Earth-destroying and bad and renewables-good at any cost. After a good day’s work for Mother Earth, they get in their SUV or Jet-off to somewhere warm feeling good about themselves.
I visited Cameco a number of years ago. Special care was required when going underground to prevent too much exposure to radiation. We later stopped by their shipping facilities where several hundred drums of processed uranium were being stored. The geologist said we didn’t have to worry because all the short half-life material had been removed. Shipping processed uranium is not dangerous, but mining it in Saskatchewan can be.
That oil sands ratio looks fishy.
Would like to see the Thorium return, it might approach infinity, as it’s currently a throwaway in Rare Earth extractions, and one of the most common elements in the ground as it turns out.
Why do we keep utilizing Uranium? Only a small percentage actually gets fissioned, less than 5%. The rest along with the dangerous daughter products are highly radioactive for eons, and that’s without mentioning the pressurized processes which are often the cause of reactor failures and emissions.
Thorium has none of these issues. Perhaps the lack of Plutonium production for weapons prevents it, huh?