Green energy – or renewable energy, to give it its other name – is so called because it generates electricity in a way that is environmentally friendly, and was designed for that purpose.

The most ready examples of renewable energy and that which creates green electricity, are solar energy and wind energy, as well as wave and tidal power, and hydroelectricity generation.

Green Nuclear Energy – The Case for Nuclear Energy in the Green Energy Family

Nuclear power is a controversial member of the group of green electricity generators. In and of itself, nuclear energy is renewable, and in that sense green; unlike the fossil fuels its sometimes grouped with, nuclear energy isn’t finite.

It also isn’t polluting, or at least not when its dealt with properly. When nuclear waste is effectively maintained, contained and transported, the harmful by-products of the process are kept safe. In so doing, nuclear energy is able to keep the tag of both renewable energy and green energy, in that it remains recyclable, and isn’t harmful to the environment.

Nuclear energy, then, is in theory a valid member of the green electricity family: but can we go as far as calling nuclear green?

Green Nuclear Power – The Case Against

Many anti-nuclear environmentalists argue that the theory just doesn’t hold with practice.  Though nuclear power is perfectly safe as long as nuclear waste is contained, critics argue that anyone who doesn’t see that wastage is likely, as companies cut corners, is being naive.

George Monbiot, for one, has written extensively about the dumping of waste and why green nuclear might not be a possibility citing the recent Trafigura scandal, amongst others, as evidence for the problem with waste dumping and nuclear power.

The question over nuclear power and whether we can call some of it green nuclear, then, is one surrounding realities: though nuclear power is fine in theory, can we trust to the maintenance of that theory?

Green Electricity as Generated from Traditional Green Energy

Some would argue that, to use the common phrase, it would be better to be safe than sorry. In essence, then, they won’t call nuclear energy green because of the potential, and to them very practically real risks.

Given that the classification of nuclear power in this respect is up for debate, many energy companies try to steer clear of nuclear power in their fuel mix, when offering green electricity to customers.

Of the UK’s Green Three, only Ecotricity use nuclear power, and at low levels; in order to call their green tariffs 100% renewable, the other two avoid the use of nuclear power, as shown in studied fuel mix data for UK companies.

When looking to switch gas and electricity to green tariffs, then, it may be best to play safe and avoid nuclear energy; Ecotricity, though, are one of the world’s most reputable green energy companies, and the fact that they are willing to use it should be taken into consideration.