Lorenzo Pinna calls nuclear energy fear irrational

Scientific communicator Lorenzo Pinna has characterized public fear regarding nuclear energy as “largely irrational,” attributing much of this anxiety to the collective psychological impact of the Chernobyl disaster. Speaking at the Meeting di Rimini during a presentation for his upcoming book, ‘Cento anni in compagnia dell’atomo. Una breve storia del nucleare’, Pinna noted that the contamination of everyday food sources following Chernobyl left a lasting mark on the collective imagination.

Pinna emphasized that Western reactors, such as those in France, the United States, Germany, and Spain, have maintained a safe record for 40 years, with no major incidents occurring in the 430 reactors currently in operation. He also contextualized the Fukushima disaster as being driven by a massive ninth-magnitude earthquake and a 14-meter tsunami rather than inherent reactor failure.

Regarding the future of energy, Pinna argued that nuclear power is statistically as safe as renewable sources and less dangerous than fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal. He advocated for an energy mix that includes renewables, nuclear power, geothermal energy, and marine wave energy to meet the increasing demand for electricity and hydrogen production.