Nuclear Energy: Technology, Status, and Prospects

Nuclear Energy 1
NUCLEAR ENERGY
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Nuclear Energy 2
ABSTRACT
There is a need for clean energy so as to deal with the change in climate caused by greenhouse
gas emissions from conventional fuels. The energy requirements are progressively increasing
yearly to the extent that the energy produced by conventional sources such as oil, gas, and coal
cannot meet the current and future demand. From these facts, the best clean source of electricity
that should be considered to meet the increasing demand is a nuclear power. Nuclear energy is
generated through the fission of radioactive materials in a nuclear reactor. This report reviews
the technology behind nuclear power, the current status and prospects of nuclear power. The
quantity of energy generated through nuclear reaction is larger than the electricity generated
from other conventional sources. Nuclear power is expected to be the major focus in the future
energy generation due to the current safety measures, anticipated future demand, eco-friendly,
and low production capacity.

Nuclear Energy 3
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................................3
NUCLEAR POWER TECHNOLOGY.................................................................................................................4
Nuclear Fusion Technology......................................................................................................................4
Nuclear Fission Technology.....................................................................................................................4
Radioactive Decay Technology................................................................................................................5
CURRENT STATUS OF NUCLEAR POWER......................................................................................................5
Innovative nuclear reactors.....................................................................................................................6
Introduction in Other Countries..............................................................................................................7
Safety of Nuclear Power..........................................................................................................................7
Current Power Generation......................................................................................................................8
Greenhouse Gas Emissions......................................................................................................................8
PROSPECTS OF NUCLEAR POWER................................................................................................................9
Future Electricity Demand.......................................................................................................................9
Production Capacity...............................................................................................................................10
Safety Features......................................................................................................................................11
Environmental Impacts..........................................................................................................................11
CONCLUSION.............................................................................................................................................11

Nuclear Energy 4
INTRODUCTION
The climatic change has become a serious concern currently due to the increasing rate of carbon
dioxide emissions caused by technological development and an increase in population.
Numerous environmental organizations globally have initiated different was of mitigating carbon
dioxide such are encouraging the development and use of renewable energy sources such as
wind, solar, hydro, and nuclear. Nuclear energy is one of the renewable energy sources that is
currently being considered by numerous states as a way of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
This report seeks to assess the technology behind nuclear power, the current status and prospects
of nuclear power.
Nuclear power is a source of electricity derived from nuclear reactions which produce nuclear
energy to produce heat that is generally used in the generation of electricity in nuclear power
station through steam turbines. Nuclear energy is produced by the splitting of atoms in a reactor
to heat water into steam which is used in turning the steam turbine to produce electricity
(Toshinsky, et al., 2011). Nuclear power can be attained through processes of nuclear fusion,
nuclear decay, and nuclear fission. The electricity from nuclear power is currently being
generated from nuclear fission of plutonium and uranium. Nuclear power is characterized as a
renewable energy source and low greenhouse power supply.
NUCLEAR POWER TECHNOLOGY
Nuclear power can be attained through processes of nuclear fusion, nuclear decay, and nuclear
fission in terms of nuclear technologies. These technologies of nuclear power generation are
discussed below: