Sustainable development is defined as progress that satisfies current demands while preserving future generations’ capacity to satisfy their own. Due to continually rising energy consumption, the limited supply of fossil fuels, and growing awareness of the negative environmental effects of burning fossil fuels, there is anticipated to be a significant increase in demand for nuclear energy for industrial uses. Unconventional oil resources are increasingly being used to supply the expanding demand, particularly for transportation, as a result of rising conventional oil prices.
Nuclear energy has diverse industrial applications, including seawater desalination, hydrogen production, district heating, and process heat for industries. The need for nuclear strength for industrial uses is anticipated to rise quickly due to the world’s continually rising energy consumption, the limited supply of fossil fuels, and growing awareness of the negative environmental effects of burning them.
According to a publication conducted by the United Nations in 2024, nuclear energy has diverse industrial applications, including seawater desalination, hydrogen production, district heating, and process heat for industries. The need for nuclear strength for industrial uses is anticipated to rise quickly due to the world’s continually rising energy consumption, the limited supply of fossil fuels, and growing awareness of the negative environmental effects of burning them.
Moreover, about 25% of global energy consumption and CO2 emissions come from the transportation sector, with most of its energy derived from petroleum-based liquids. Nuclear energy might play a sizable role in decarbonising transportation, when sophisticated electric and fuel cell cars are developed, thereby lowering CO2 emissions. High temperature reactors (HTRs) can also supply a portion of the energy required to convert coal, natural gas into transference fuels for traditional cars as we move toward more sophisticated automobiles.
Beyond electricity generation, nuclear technology offers unique contributions to industrial and societal advancements. Products can be sterilized, food safety and quality can be guaranteed, cultural artifacts can be preserved and restored, and pollutants in the air and industrial wastes may be cleaned up using radiation from nuclear power plants. Additionally, it may be used to make new materials, such biodegradable food packaging and hydrogels for use in medicine to heal wounds, and change existing materials to increase their quality and lifespans, like making wires fire-resistant. Experts may also utilize radiotracers to diagnose and enhance industrial operations, such as tracking and monitoring the movement and distribution of sediments from dredging, building, or dumping in coastal regions, or discovering important natural resources underground. The quality and integrity of materials and structures, such as pipelines for gas, oil, and airplanes, as well as safety during natural catastrophes, are guaranteed by non-destructive testing such as industrial radiography (International Atomic Energy Agency, 2018).
These technologies are imperative in energy-efficient infrastructure to meet SDG 9 and combat poverty, and climate change adaptation. Nuclear power does not require weather dependence while renewable sources do which is important for industrial activities. In addition, nuclear power plants use about the same quantity of water as coal plants yet land and materials for such power plants are comparatively lesser. Furthermore, investments in the nuclear power sector also result in the creation of employment opportunities and the development of human capital and technology as is the case in South Korea where nuclear energy has raised labor productivity and contributed to wealth creation. The thrust for achieving energy independence through nuclear energy development has greater prospects but challenges that come with its management particularly that of radioactive waste are also present.
The idea that radioactive waste and accident risk decrease nuclear energy’s contribution to sustainable development is a prevalent argument against nuclear energy. As demonstrated by more than 50 years of experience in OECD member nations, well managed nuclear power programs have a very low safety risk as well as less of an impact on the environment and public health than other energy sources, particularly when it comes to emissions and air pollution (Van Vuuren et al., 2012).
To conclude, due to its low carbon emission, high efficiency of electricity generation, and low generation cost, nuclear energy will always be relevant in assisting the efforts of industrial development which aims at sustainability. Even though some problems such as waste disposal and social image exist, nuclear energy will be critical in addressing the global climate crisis without hindering the industrialization of the world and its development.