SummaryTo meet the world energy demands, all forms of renewable energy sources should be exploited to reduce and possibly eliminate the presently predominant use of chemical energy source of fossil fuels that have a high rate of carbon emission. Nuclear energy from fission reactors is well established. It has less carbon footprint and also has the advantage of continuous base load supply compared with other renewable like solar or wind energy. Public acceptance of nuclear energy is being regained with wide institutional support for ensuring highest level of safety in Gen-III+ reactors. The R&D on innovative types of nuclear design is also essential to enable both growth and sustenance of nuclear energy. It is necessary to explore ways and means of the complete utilization of both fissile and fertile components of the nuclear fuel, which is possible only through closing of the fuel cycle and allowing multiple reuse of the fuel.Induction of fertile thorium and the depleted uranium in large measure would widen the nuclear material base and ensure energy supply for centuries. The idea of thorium breeders discussed and presented by the author can be studied by several competent groups world over. After a comprehensive research, they can be deployed to provide energy for the 21st century and beyond.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.