Consider the following statements: 1. Geothermal energy can be used

Consider the following statements:

1. Geothermal energy can be used to produce electricity or its hot water can be used directly for industry, agriculture, bathing and cleaning.
2. Nuclear energy is often cheaper than some other sources of electricity.
3. Thermal power stations burn fossil fuels to create steam to drive the turbines.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 only

1, 2 and 3

1 and 3 only

2 and 3 only

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF – 2023

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Statement 1 is correct; Geothermal energy can be harnessed to generate electricity or its heat can be directly utilized for various purposes like heating buildings, industrial processes, agriculture (greenhouses), bathing (hot springs), etc. Statement 3 is correct; Thermal power stations traditionally burn fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) to heat water, produce steam, and drive turbines to generate electricity. Statement 2 is incorrect; While the operational cost of nuclear energy can be relatively low, the initial capital costs for building nuclear power plants are very high, as are costs associated with waste disposal and decommissioning. Consequently, nuclear energy is often *more expensive* in terms of Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) than many other sources, especially compared to mature renewable technologies or even certain fossil fuel plants depending on various factors. Stating it is “often cheaper” is a generalization that is frequently untrue.

Geothermal energy has dual uses (electricity and direct heat). Thermal power plants rely on burning fuel. Nuclear energy has high upfront and decommissioning/waste disposal costs, making it often expensive, not necessarily cheaper, compared to other sources.

The cost-effectiveness of different energy sources is a complex issue depending on location, technology, subsidies, regulatory environment, and external costs (like environmental impact). While some sources might be cheaper in certain contexts, statement 2 makes a general claim about nuclear energy that is not broadly accurate when considering full lifecycle costs.

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