This diagram from a NewScientist article shows how fossil fuels are far deadlier than nuclear.
A blogger has also compiled the following list which also includes renewable energy.
Energy Source - Death Rate (deaths per TWh)
Coal – world average - 161 (26% of world energy, 50% of electricity)Coal – China - 278
Coal – USA - 15
Oil - 36 (36% of world energy)
Natural Gas - 4 (21% of world energy)
Biofuel/Biomass - 12
Peat - 12
Solar (rooftop) - 0.44 (less than 0.1% of world energy)
Wind - 0.15 (less than 1% of world energy)
Hydro - 0.10 (europe death rate, 2.2% of world energy)
Hydro - world including Banqiao) - 1.4 (about 2500 TWh/yr and 171,000 Banqiao dead)
Nuclear - 0.04 (5.9% of world energy)
Interesting.
ReplyDeleteI did some quick calculations based on Dutch CBS energy stats. We use 7.7 PJ per year (including national transportation, homes and industry, but not the energy needed for imported products).
That's "only" 25 GW, or just 6 large nuclear power plants (of about 4 reactors). And 1500 W per person.
I may have misinterpreted the CBS stats though as they are not very clear.
25GW * 8760h = 219000 GWh = 219 TWh per year. That's a lot, at US coal rates, that is 3285 people dying from air pollution in the Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteThough we also use a lot of gas instead of coal.