Past, Present, and Future: A Closer Look at Nuclear Energy

by | Educational, Energy

Nuclear energy may sound technical, futuristic, and to some people even scary. But how much do we know about nuclear energy? While it might take an advanced degree to truly comprehend the ins and outs of this energy source, it’s not difficult to get a general understanding. Discover more about what nuclear energy actually is, why it’s an important part of our modern energy mix, and how its use impacts everyday life.  

What Is Nuclear Energy and How Is It Produced? 

Nuclear energy is produced by splitting atoms through a process known as fission. Nuclear fission produces a lot of energy, much of it in the form of heat. But when we say nuclear energy, we’re most often referring to nuclear power, which is the generation of electricity from this fission process. 

Who Discovered Nuclear Energy? 

In the late 1930s and early 1940s, teams of scientists the world over were busy exploring the applications of nuclear fission. The potential to weaponize this process in the form of nuclear weapons was well known, but at the same time, many scientists were working on harnessing the power of fission to produce energy. In 1942, a team led by nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi created the world’s first nuclear reactor, despite this Fermi earned the title of the “architect of the atomic bomb”.  

How Does Nuclear Energy Work? 

Starting a nuclear fission chain reaction isn’t by itself enough to turn the lights on in your home. In fact, by itself, the nuclear reaction doesn’t produce any electricity. So how does nuclear energy produce electricity? The answer might surprise you—the key is heat.  

Before we get to heat, though, let’s look at how a nuclear reactor is set up. To start, uranium is processed into pellets and inserted into fuel rods, and these rods are then lowered into a tank of water. The enriched uranium undergoes a chain reaction, during which time its atoms split and release energy. This specific reaction is exothermic, which means that it produces energy in the form of heat.  

But by itself, heat (like nuclear fission) doesn’t produce electricity. To generate electricity from fission, most nuclear power plants harness the generated heat by boiling water to produce steam. That steam is kept under pressure and funneled through cylinders where they drive pistons which then spin turbines. It’s at this final stage during which mechanical energy is transformed into electricity  

As you can see, there is a long chain of events that occurs between starting a fission reaction and actually generating electricity.  

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How Is Nuclear Energy Used? Who Uses Nuclear Energy? 

After the heat from these nuclear reactions has been used to produce electricity, that power is then transmitted to customers through the electrical grid. As an energy source, nuclear power plants provide roughly 20% of U.S. electricity, so there’s a chance the computer you’re reading this on was powered by nuclear energy. 

How Clean Is Nuclear Energy? 

Nuclear Energy being Produced across from Lake source

Nuclear energy is an important part of our national energy mix. But Americans today are becoming more concerned about climate change and are looking for clean energy solutions and renewable energy sources. While most environmentalists agree that wind and solar power are more eco-friendly energy sources than fossil fuels, nuclear energy has more mixed reviews. 

Is Nuclear Energy Renewable or Nonrenewable? 

Nuclear energy is not a source of renewable power. Wind energy, solar power, and hydropower all use energy sources that aren’t going to run out, so we call them renewable.   

But for nuclear power plants to produce the fission reactions they need to generate electricity, a specific nuclear fuel called enriched uranium is required. That uranium must be mined and refined, which means nuclear fuel — and therefore nuclear energy — cannot be considered renewable.  

Nuclear energy might not be renewable, but that doesn’t mean it’s not clean. Nuclear power plants produce zero emissions, emitting none of the greenhouse gases that come out of fossil fuel plants that burn coal or natural gas.   

In fact, according to the Nuclear Energy Institute, nuclear power plants have saved the United States more than 16 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions — a key driver of climate change—since 1995.  

This is why many see nuclear energy as a key component of a clean energy mix. It’s also why many of those who are concerned about climate change are beginning to champion nuclear power as a cornerstone of a clean energy future. 

Is Nuclear Energy Good? 

Nuclear energy’s low-carbon or carbon-free greenhouse gas emissions aren’t the only reason why nuclear energy is seen as a positive energy source. While wind energy relies on consistent breezes and solar power needs the sun to shine, nuclear energy can be relied on to produce electricity around the clock. That’s why it’s referred to as a source of baseload power, and it makes it a reliable keystone of a green energy mix.  

In addition to providing clean and reliable power, nuclear energy also has price advantages over fossil fuels and renewables. While it’s true that nuclear power plants have very high initial price tags, once constructed, they produce some of the most affordable electricity around. 

How Safe Is Nuclear Energy? 

The intricacies of nuclear fission may make our eyes cross, but most of us are familiar with the dangers of nuclear energy. Several high-profile nuclear disasters have made headlines and were cemented in history books, including the 2011 Fukushima disaster in Japan, the 1986 Chernobyl meltdown in Ukraine, and the 1979 radiation leak at Three Mile Island in New York. All energy sources involved in power generation entail some sort of risk, but when things go bad for nuclear energy, they can go very bad. 

 

Is Nuclear Energy Dangerous?  

Nuclear Energy Dangers Found | Overseas Map Imagesource

There’s no denying the dangers associated with nuclear energy — the world has witnessed them on multiple occasions. The radioactive fuel used to produce nuclear energy is, by itself, hazardous material.   

Nuclear meltdowns can wreak havoc on local communities, and as we’ve seen with Ukraine in the wake of the Chernobyl disaster, meltdowns can leave lasting effects and harm people and the environment for decades  

Still, the overwhelming majority of nuclear power plants have produced energy safely for decades, and studies suggest that nuclear power is a safer energy source than coal, oil, and gas. Modern advanced reactor design takes into account past accidents by producing systems that are designed to shut down reactions should something go wrong. 

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Is Nuclear Energy Bad? 

The sheer magnitude of potential catastrophe will always be a mark against nuclear energy, no matter how safe most plants might be or how safe new nuclear reactors are becoming. This is a key reason why public opinion on nuclear energy in the U.S. remains divided.  

Nuclear energy is also very expensive to construct. Because of the specialized processes involved and the many safety systems that come with it, nuclear power plants are among the most expensive to construct, and their costs have risen 23% over the last decade.  

Nuclear waste has always been a thorny question for the nuclear industry to answer. Spent fuel remains hazardous, and that radioactive waste can’t be disposed of by traditional methods. Some advanced reactors recycle nuclear waste, though these new reactors haven’t yet been constructed here in the United States. 

What Is the State of Nuclear Energy Today? 

The nuclear industry today continues to produce about 20% of the electricity in the United States, and while renewables’ share of the national power mix is rising and fossil fuels are on the decline, nuclear power remains stable. 

Although nuclear reactors continue to produce large amounts of clean electricity generation, the pace of construction of new reactors is sluggish. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), as of December 2020, “the United States had 94 operating commercial nuclear reactors at 56 nuclear power plants in 28 states.” Most of these reactors are old, though, and only two new nuclear reactors are currently under construction. 

What’s the Deal With New Nuclear? 

There is still plenty of reason for excitement in the nuclear industry today. A host of new nuclear technologies are coming down the pipeline.  

Molten salt reactors are said to produce a safer version of nuclear energy, and countries around the world are refining designs of these cutting-edge power plants.  

China is working on the world’s first commercial-scale thorium reactor, which uses thorium in place of uranium as a fuel source. Thorium reactors are meant to be safer and cheaper than conventional nuclear power plants, all while producing less nuclear waste. 

Finally, researchers are working on small modular nuclear reactors that have game-changing potential for the nuclear power industry. Because of their smaller size, these reactors have much smaller capital costs and are cheaper to construct. That means lower prices for customers and more flexibility for nuclear power plant operators. 

What’s Next for Nuclear? 

Nuclear energy produces about one-fifth of America’s electricity without contributing to our country’s carbon dioxide emissions. Nuclear power plants can provide the same consistent energy source as fossil fuels while producing much fewer emissions.   

As climate change becomes a greater concern and the search for cleaner energy options continues, nuclear energy could be a more attractive solution. While there are some inherent dangers with nuclear energy, more measures are being put into place to prevent disasters and make it safer overall.  

Indeed, nuclear fission is an atomic reaction that isn’t visible to the naked eye, but it’s a key component of a low-carbon future that can help provide the world with the electricity that powers our lives. 

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