Current situtation:
The energy sector (in Germany) was never eager to use nuclear fission power, they were pushed into it by politics in last century. The environmentalist movement is weird - in Germany. People want wind turbines but they don't want wind turbines in reach of 2 kilometer. What is stupid, because it is a minor thing compared to nuclear power plants, coal power plants or whatever harm a wind turbine can do (collapsing, hitting a bird...). One example of how people can completely lose their mind are the "Startbahngegener" in the late eighties, shot a cop to dead. Because? They were against a new runway at one of the biggest, busiest and oldest airports in Europe. The runway is not an issue and made sense. We need to handle climate change anyway, whatever we do. Nuclear fission power plant? If it blows up you, your country, your kids, the neighbor countries and everyone else is fucked. We increase the chance with every nuclear fission power plant further. It is not a matter of "if", it is a matter of "when".
Outlook:
At least in Germany. Built wind power plants, build more, store energy as hydrogen (whatever the energy loss is, it is better than not to store) and if possible use NUCLEAR FUSION. Yes Nuclear FUSION! It is much saver, creates only a minimum of nuclear waste after shutdown and in case of control loss and blowup the damage is probably on minor level. Wendelstein[2] - an experimental nuclear fusion project which shall test only but not create energy - is doing progress. Interestingly, this works without the usual international affairs which require involving some companies from every country. But we invest to less. There is no guarantee in success, but nuclear fusion is on any level better than nuclear fission. Sadly politics in cold war were no interested in fusion - nuclear fission was easier to develop and usable for weapons.
Current situtation: The energy sector (in Germany) was never eager to use nuclear fission power, they were pushed into it by politics in last century. The environmentalist movement is weird - in Germany. People want wind turbines but they don't want wind turbines in reach of 2 kilometer. What is stupid, because it is a minor thing compared to nuclear power plants, coal power plants or whatever harm a wind turbine can do (collapsing, hitting a bird...). One example of how people can completely lose their mind are the "Startbahngegener" in the late eighties, shot a cop to dead. Because? They were against a new runway at one of the biggest, busiest and oldest airports in Europe. The runway is not an issue and made sense. We need to handle climate change anyway, whatever we do. Nuclear fission power plant? If it blows up you, your country, your kids, the neighbor countries and everyone else is fucked. We increase the chance with every nuclear fission power plant further. It is not a matter of "if", it is a matter of "when".
Outlook: At least in Germany. Built wind power plants, build more, store energy as hydrogen (whatever the energy loss is, it is better than not to store) and if possible use NUCLEAR FUSION. Yes Nuclear FUSION! It is much saver, creates only a minimum of nuclear waste after shutdown and in case of control loss and blowup the damage is probably on minor level. Wendelstein[2] - an experimental nuclear fusion project which shall test only but not create energy - is doing progress. Interestingly, this works without the usual international affairs which require involving some companies from every country. But we invest to less. There is no guarantee in success, but nuclear fusion is on any level better than nuclear fission. Sadly politics in cold war were no interested in fusion - nuclear fission was easier to develop and usable for weapons.
[1] https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tötungsdelikte_an_der_Startbah... [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wendelstein_7-X
Heads up! Not down!