Nuclear Energy

Extracted Attributes

• Safety

  One of the lowest fatality rates per unit of energy generated

• Cost of Deployment

  Expensive and time-consuming to build, relatively cheap to run

• Primary Challenges

  Radiological hazards, cost of deployment, radioactive waste disposal, public opposition

• Environmental Impact

  Minimal greenhouse gas emissions, low life-cycle carbon emissions

• Future Production Method

  Nuclear fusion (experimental/R&D phase)

• US Policy Shift (Recent)

  Elimination of EV tax credits and solar energy subsidies to spur private investment

• Primary Production Method

  Nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium

• Purpose of US Policy Shift

  Meet rising electricity production needs, particularly for AI development

• US Average Capacity Factor

  92%

• Global Average Capacity Factor

  89%

• Global Installed Capacity (1990)

  300 GW

• Reactors Planned (November 2024)

  87

• US Annual Electricity Generation

  Almost 800 TWh of low-carbon electricity

• Leading Country in Reactor Capacity

  United States

• Global Electricity Generation (2023)

  2,602 terawatt hours (TWh)

• Total Global Capacity (November 2024)

  374 GW

• Global Low-Carbon Power Source Ranking

  Second largest (after hydroelectricity)

• Percentage of Global Electricity (2023)

  Approximately 9%

• Civilian Fission Reactors (November 2024)

  415

• Reactors Under Construction (November 2024)

  66

Timeline

• The first nuclear power plant was established. (Source: Summary)

  1950-01-01

• Global installed nuclear capacity grew to 100 GW. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1979-12-31

• The Three Mile Island accident occurred in the United States, leading to increased regulation and public opposition. (Source: Summary)

  1979-03-28

• Global installed nuclear capacity expanded throughout the 1980s. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1980-01-01

• The Chernobyl disaster occurred in the Soviet Union, further increasing regulation and public opposition. (Source: Summary)

  1986-04-26

• Global installed nuclear capacity reached 300 GW. (Source: Summary)

  1990-01-01

• The Fukushima nuclear disaster occurred in Japan, renewing concerns about nuclear safety. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2011-03-11

• Nuclear power supplied 2,602 terawatt hours of electricity globally. (Source: Summary)

  2023-01-01

• There were 415 civilian fission reactors worldwide, with many more under construction and planned. (Source: Summary)

  2024-11-01

• US energy policy shifts, including the elimination of EV tax credits and solar energy subsidies, aim to encourage private investment in nuclear energy. (Source: related_documents)

  2024-XX-XX

Nuclear power

Nuclear power is the use of nuclear reactions to produce electricity. Nuclear power can be obtained from nuclear fission, nuclear decay and nuclear fusion reactions. Presently, the vast majority of electricity from nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission of uranium and plutonium in nuclear power plants. Nuclear decay processes are used in niche applications such as radioisotope thermoelectric generators in some space probes such as Voyager 2. Reactors producing controlled fusion power have been operated since 1958 but have yet to generate net power and are not expected to be commercially available in the near future. The first nuclear power plant was built in the 1950s. The global installed nuclear capacity grew to 100 GW in the late 1970s, and then expanded during the 1980s, reaching 300 GW by 1990. The 1979 Three Mile Island accident in the United States and the 1986 Chernobyl disaster in the Soviet Union resulted in increased regulation and public opposition to nuclear power plants. Nuclear power plants supplied 2,602 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity in 2023, equivalent to about 9% of global electricity generation, and were the second largest low-carbon power source after hydroelectricity. As of November 2024, there are 415 civilian fission reactors in the world, with overall capacity of 374 GW, 66 under construction and 87 planned, with a combined capacity of 72 GW and 84 GW, respectively. The United States has the largest fleet of nuclear reactors, generating almost 800 TWh of low-carbon electricity per year with an average capacity factor of 92%. The average global capacity factor is 89%. Most new reactors under construction are generation III reactors in Asia. Nuclear power is a safe, sustainable energy source that reduces carbon emissions. This is because nuclear power generation causes one of the lowest levels of fatalities per unit of energy generated compared to other energy sources. "Economists estimate that each nuclear plant built could save more than 800,000 life years." Coal, petroleum, natural gas and hydroelectricity have each caused more fatalities per unit of energy due to air pollution and accidents. Nuclear power plants also emit no greenhouse gases and result in less life-cycle carbon emissions than common sources of renewable energy. The radiological hazards associated with nuclear power are the primary motivations of the anti-nuclear movement, which contends that nuclear power poses threats to people and the environment, citing the potential for accidents like the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan in 2011, and is too expensive to deploy when compared to alternative sustainable energy sources.

Web Search Results

• What is Nuclear Energy? The Science of Nuclear Power | IAEA

  Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons. This source of energy can be produced in two ways: fission – when nuclei of atoms split into several parts – or fusion – when nuclei fuse together. [...] The nuclear energy harnessed around the world today to produce electricity is through nuclear fission, while technology to generate electricity from fusion is at the R&D phase. This article will explore nuclear fission. To learn more about nuclear fusion, click here. ## What is nuclear fission? Nuclear fission is a reaction where the nucleus of an atom splits into two or more smaller nuclei, while releasing energy. [...] Nuclear power is a low-carbon source of energy, because unlike coal, oil or gas power plants, nuclear power plants practically do not produce CO2 during their operation. Nuclear reactors generate close to one-third of the world’s carbon free electricity and are crucial in meeting climate change goals. To find out more about nuclear power and the clean energy transition, read this edition of the IAEA Bulletin. ## What is the role of the IAEA?

• The Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy | Earth.Org

  Finally, nuclear energy has some advantages compared to some of the most popular renewable energy sources. According to the US Office of Nuclear Energy, nuclear power has by far the highest capacity factor, with plants requiring less maintenance, capable to operate for up to two years before refuelling and able to produce maximum power more than 93% of the time during the year, making them three times more reliable than wind and solar plants. [...] France’s success in cutting down emissions is a clear example of some of the main advantages of nuclear energy over fossil fuels. First and foremost, nuclear energy is clean and provides pollution-free power with no greenhouse gas emissions. Contrary to what many believe, cooling towers in nuclear plants only emit water vapour and are thus not releasing any pollutant or radioactive substance into the atmosphere. Compared to all the energy alternatives we currently have on hand, nuclear is [...] Lastly, if compared to other sources of energy, nuclear power is one of the most expensive and time-consuming forms of energy. Nuclear plants cost billions of dollars to build and they take much longer than any other infrastructure for renewable energy, sometimes even more than a decade. However, while nuclear power plants are expensive to build, they are relatively cheap to run, a factor that improves its competitiveness. Still, the long building process is considered a significant obstacle in

• Advantages and Challenges of Nuclear Energy

  The Office of Nuclear Energy within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) focuses its research primarily on maintaining the existing fleet of reactors, developing new advanced reactor technologies, and improving the nuclear fuel cycle to increase the sustainability of our energy supply and strengthen the U.S. economy. Below are some of the main advantages of nuclear energy and the challenges currently facing the industry today. ### Advantages of Nuclear Energy #### Clean Energy Source [...] An overview of the main advantages of nuclear energy and the challenges currently facing the industry today. Office of Nuclear Energy June 11, 2024 Image 5min minute read time Image 6: Plant Vogtle Units 1-4 Plant Vogtle Units 1-4 Georgia Power Nuclear energy protects air quality by producing massive amounts of carbon-free electricity. It powers communities in 28 U.S. states and contributes to many non-electric applications, ranging from themedical field to space exploration. [...] Nuclear is thelargest source of clean power in the United States. It generates nearly 775 billion kilowatthours of electricity each year and produces nearly half of the nation’s emissions-free electricity. This avoids more than 471 million metric tons of carbon each year, which is the equivalent of removing 100 million cars off of the road. #### Creates Jobs

• NUCLEAR 101: How Does a Nuclear Reactor Work?

  Nuclear reactors are the heart of a nuclear power plant. They contain and control nuclear chain reactions that produce heat through a physical process called fission. That heat is used to make steam that spins a turbine to create electricity. With more than 400 commercial reactors worldwide, including 94 in the United States, nuclear power continues to be one of the largest sources of reliable carbon-free electricity available. ### Nuclear Fission Creates Heat [...] The unused steam is then condensed back to water and reused in the heating process. ###### _\This article was originally published on 2/6/2019 and is routinely updated to include the latest stats._ Subscribe for Updates Email \ Tags: Nuclear Energy Carbon Pollution-Free Electricity Clean Energy Energy Security Next-Generation Energy Technologies Image 9: Department of EnergyCommitted to Restoring America’s Energy Dominance. Follow Us [...] Breadcrumb ---------- 1. Office of Nuclear Energy 2. NUCLEAR 101: How Does a Nuclear Reactor Work? Blog NUCLEAR 101: How Does a Nuclear Reactor Work? ============================================= Learn how boiling and pressurized light-water reactors work. Office of Nuclear Energy August 2, 2023 Image 5 3 min minute read time Video Url The U.S. Department of Energy's Spark Squad comic book characters explain how nuclear energy produces clean power. U.S. Department of Energy

• Nuclear power and the environment - U.S. Energy Information ... - EIA

  Unlike fossil fuel-fired power plants, nuclear reactors do not produce air pollution or carbon dioxide while operating. However, the processes for mining and refining uranium ore and making reactor fuel all require large amounts of energy. Nuclear power plants also have large amounts of metal and concrete, which require large amounts of energy to manufacture. If fossil fuels are used for mining and refining uranium ore, or if fossil fuels are used when constructing the nuclear power plant, then [...] Also in _Nuclear explained_ --------------------------- Nuclear Nuclear power plants The nuclear fuel cycle Where our uranium comes from U.S. nuclear industry Nuclear power and the environment Learn more ---------- U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) factsheets on nuclear power and nuclear wastes NRC Radioactive Waste Quick Links Spent nuclear fuel data Articles on nuclear energy [...] A major environmental concern related to nuclear power is the creation of radioactive wastes such as uranium mill tailings, spent (used) reactor fuel, and other radioactive wastes. These materials can remain radioactive and dangerous to human health for thousands of years. Radioactive wastes are subject to special regulations that govern their handling, transportation, storage, and disposal to protect human health and the environment. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) regulates the

• Image

  

• Country

  United States

• Located In

  Chicago

• Instance Of

  Q860861

• Coordinates

  Lat: 41.7925, Lon: -87.6011

• Inception Date

  1/1/1967