Nuclear Energy
The most energy-dense power source ever developed - and one of the most debated.
⚙️ How It Works
Nuclear power plants use controlled fission of uranium-235 or plutonium-239. Neutrons split heavy nuclei, releasing heat that boils water, drives steam turbines, and generates electricity. About 10% of the world's electricity comes from nuclear power.
✅ Advantages
Very low carbon emissions per kWh (comparable to wind). High energy density - 1 kg of uranium = ~3 million kg of coal equivalent. Reliable 24/7 baseload power. Small land footprint. Consistent output regardless of weather.
⚠️ Disadvantages
Radioactive waste with half-lives of thousands of years. High upfront construction costs and long build times. Public perception challenges. Risk of catastrophic accidents (Chernobyl, Fukushima). Proliferation concerns.
🏭 Reactor Types
PWR (Pressurized Water) - most common worldwide. BWR (Boiling Water) - used at Fukushima. CANDU (Canada) - uses natural uranium. RBMK (Soviet) - used at Chernobyl. SMR (Small Modular) - emerging technology.
🌟 Nuclear Fusion - The Future
Fusing deuterium + tritium produces helium + a neutron + massive energy. No long-lived radioactive waste. Near-unlimited fuel from seawater. ITER (France) and NIF (USA) are the flagship projects. NIF achieved ignition in December 2022.
🗺️ Global Nuclear Power
France generates ~70% of its electricity from nuclear. The USA has the most reactors (93). China is rapidly building new reactors. Germany phased out nuclear in 2023. Japan restarted reactors after Fukushima review. South Korea is expanding its fleet.
♻️ Nuclear Waste
High-level waste (spent fuel rods) requires isolation for thousands of years. Finland is building the world's first permanent deep geological repository (Onkalo). Reprocessing can reduce waste volume but raises proliferation concerns.
💰 Economics
Nuclear has high capital costs but low operating costs and fuel costs. LCOE (levelized cost) varies widely by country. New builds in the West struggle with cost overruns (Vogtle, Hinkley Point C). South Korea and China build far cheaper through standardization.