Education Tool for the Service-to-Fuel Chain of Energy Choices

Abstract

We are creating a web-based education tool that compares the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy and other primary energies. The user begins by specifying common services from everyday life. After selecting a service, a sequence of decisions as to what service device (tool), distribution system, processing system, and primary energy (energies harvested from nature) completes the “service-to-fuel” chain. The application puts out an estimated amount of primary energy required for a given unit of service. Our tool exposes the infrastructure behind energy services and gives the user an interactive comparison of the high energy density of nuclear fuel to that of other possible sources like coal, oil, natural gas, solar, wind or hydro.