After passing by the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant on our way to Pori, Finland last week, I was instantly intrigued by the fact that located not too far from Rauma was a huge nuclear power plant that supplied energy to 70% of Finnish industries and corporations. I had never visited a nuclear power plant before, and to be honest, given the horrific nature of accidents associated with such power plants, I was a bit hesitant to explore such a potentially dangerous area.
Over the weekend, Marja registered me, Kari, Ann-Christine, and Camilla for a guided tour of the power plant for this Wednesday. Because security was tightly regulated, she needed to provide my US passport number and each family members' Finnish social security number.
Today morning, we arrived at the Olkiluoto plant at 10 AM. After going through security, we were seated in an auditorium where we listened to an hour-long lecture about the technology and science behind nuclear energy (for example fission) and about the plant itself as well as its environmental impact. While I am sure that the lecture was compelling, unfortunately, the guide only spoke in Finnish, which left me kind of confused! Luckily, Camilla and Ann-Christine helped to translate certain essential pieces of information.
Following the lecture was a delicious coffee, doughnut, and chocolate marble cake break!
Satisfied after the snack break, the entire group was loaded onto a bus that would take us around the premises of the entire nuclear power plant. It was simultaneously fascinating and frightening to stare up at the power plants, knowing that a single column contained such an immense quantity of energy.
Soon, the bus began to descend into a cave, and we were taken 100 meters below the surface. Every person in the tour group was handed a blue helmet when we got off the bus, which would protect us from any falling pieces of rock.
An example of how waste is disposed of. The waste material from the nuclear energy production is loaded into a copper canister which descends 600 meters underground. Nuclear waste is always disposed of efficiently and safely.
Me 100 meters underground
Me with the bedrock
This machine was one of the highlights of the tour!! I poured some powdered substance into a little container, and using a lever, I applied about a car's worth of pressure onto the little container. When I took the container out, the powdered substance had undergone a pressurizing process that transformed it into a solid block of rock!
In the museum following the tour. I am here with Einstein!
In the simulated control room of a power plant.
How much energy can you create by bicycling? Although it does not look difficult, I was completely out of breath after powering all the machines.
Today's visit to Olkiluoto helped to alter my faulty preconceived notions about the dangers of nuclear power plants. After understanding the process and examining the environmental impacts of nuclear power plants, I have come to the realization that nuclear energy is a safe and sustainable source of power for the future.
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