Nuclear Power Explained: All You Need to Know

Nuclear Power Explained: All You Need to Know

By
Grace Smoot

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Nuclear power has faced criticism for its use of radioactive materials to generate electricity. But the process produces little to no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions or other greenhouse gasses (GHGs). So, we had to ask: What is nuclear power really, and how could it help us mitigate climate change?

Nuclear power is created through either nuclear fusion or nuclear fission. Per kWh produced, nuclear power emits 12 grams of CO2 on a life-cycle basis. It combats climate change and has various environmental benefits, but can come with the threat of nuclear waste products.

Keep reading to find out all about what nuclear power is, its global capacity, its carbon footprint, its environmental benefits and drawbacks, and how it can combat climate change.

The Big Picture of Nuclear Power

In general, nuclear power is generated when neutrons either divide or fuse, which releases heat, produces steam, spins a turbine, and drives generators to produce electricity. 

The two ways we can generate nuclear power are via nuclear fission (when neutrons divide) or nuclear fusion (when neutrons fuse).

How Is Nuclear Power Defined

Nuclear fission is the generation of energy produced when splitting apart the nucleus of an atom. 

Nuclear fission: a nuclear reaction in which a heavy nucleus splits spontaneously or on impact with another particle, with the release of energy.”

Cambridge Dictionary

Nuclear fusion is the generation of energy produced when lighter atoms are combined or fused to create larger and heavier atoms.

Nuclear fusion: the process of joining two nuclei to produce energy.”

Cambridge Dictionary

All operating nuclear power plants today utilize the process of nuclear fission, whereas nuclear fusion is still very much in the research and development phase. 

Related:

Are you interested in learning more about nuclear fission or nuclear fusion? Check it out in these articles here: 

What nuclear power isNuclear power is generated when the nucleus of an atom is divided or joined to another nucleus.
How nuclear power worksThe energy created when neutrons either fuse or divide releases energy in the form of heat which produces steam, spins a turbine, and drives generators to produce electricity.  
The global capacity of nuclear powerApproximately 4% of global primary energy comes from nuclear power. Global distribution varies, with some countries producing no nuclear power and others sourcing most of their energy from nuclear power. An average yearly new nuclear capacity of 20 GW is required to achieve net zero by 2050.
The carbon footprint of nuclear powerOn a life-cycle basis, nuclear power emits 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity produced.
The environmental benefits of nuclear powerNuclear power mitigates climate change, promotes energy independence, creates jobs, and improves air quality. It has minimal land use impacts and produces little to no waste products. 
The environmental drawbacks of nuclear powerUranium mining and radioactive wastes are drawbacks associated with nuclear fission.
Nuclear power and climate changeNuclear power combats climate change because it is a reliable, efficient, and low-carbon emission source of energy.

How Does Nuclear Power Work

In general, nuclear power is generated when neutrons either fuse or divide, which releases heat, produces steam, spins a turbine, and drives generators to produce electricity.  

How Does Nuclear Power Actually Produce Energy

The two ways to generate nuclear power are via nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.

Nuclear fission is the process by which neutrons are used to split the nucleus of a Uranium-235 atom,which releases an enormous amount of energy in the form of heat and radiation. Each time the reaction occurs, more neutrons are free to strike more and more nuclei, causing a chain reaction.

Illustration of the nuclear fission process
International Atomic Energy Agency: Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fission power plants generally operate in the following manner:

  • The reactor starts and U-235 atoms in the reactor core split (fission), releasing heat and neutrons.
  • Neutrons fission other nuclei in the reactor core in a chain reaction, generating more heat and more neutrons.
  • Control rods contain materials that absorb some of the neutrons, helping to contain the chain reaction.
  • The heat generated turns water that surrounds the immersed reactor into steam.
  • The steam spins a turbine which drives a generator to produce electricity.

Nuclear fusion is the process by which lighter atoms are combined or fused to create larger and heavier atoms. Nuclear fusion is still in the research and development phase. 

Illustration of the nuclear fusion process
International Atomic Energy Agency: Nuclear Fusion

Nuclear fusion power plants generally operate in the following manner:

  • Deuterium and tritium (isotopes of hydrogen) are introduced into a fusion reactor and heated upwards of 150 million degrees Celsius
  • The deuterium and tritium fuse together, forming an electrically charged gas known as plasma and releasing massive amounts of energy and neutrons
  • A lithium blanket surrounding the core of the fusion reactor absorbs the kinetic energy of the neutrons, causing the blanket to heat up
  • As the blanket heats up, the lithium is transformed into tritium (which is used to fuel the reaction) and helium
  • The energy, in the form of heat, is collected by the coolant (water, helium, or Li-Pb eutectic) flowing through the blanket
  • The heat can be used to generate electricity 

The sun and stars get their energy from nuclear fusion, as hydrogen atoms fuse together to form helium and matter converts into energy. However, the fusion process is very hard to control within a laboratory setting. More still needs to be done to determine if this could be another viable energy source. 

What Is the Global Capacity of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power accounted for roughly 10% of global electricity generation in 2022, generating approximately 2,500 TWh of electricity from approximately 413 GW of installed capacity.

Illustration from Our World in Data: Nuclear power generation
Our World in Data: Nuclear power generation

Historically, the US has led the way in nuclear power, with 93 operating commercial nuclear reactors at 54 nuclear power plants. But more recently, China has emerged as a global leader in nuclear power. China currently has 21 nuclear reactors under construction, two and a half times more than any other country, which will contribute an additional 21 GW of electricity. 

Some countries rely heavily on nuclear power whilst others have not yet tapped into the resource. For example, nuclear power provides roughly 60% of France, Slovakia, and Ukraine’s electricity, but South America and Africa get virtually no energy from nuclear. The top 5 countries (The US, China, France, Russia, Republic of Korea) represent roughly 70% of the world’s nuclear power generation.

Illustration from Our World in Data: Nuclear power generation, 2022
Our World in Data: Nuclear power generation, 2022

The future of nuclear fission remains uncertain. Although it can produce relatively emissions-free energy and adjust its energy output to compensate for shifts in renewable energy output, nuclear fission also faces high upfront costs and negative public opinion. 

Overall, the IEA has labeled nuclear power as ‘more efforts needed’ in their Net Zero by 2050 Scenario, a framework for the global energy sector to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 and universal energy access by 2030.

In terms of capacity additions, nuclear power capacity must increase from 414 GW to 545 GW by 2030 to stay on track in the net zero scenario. Currently, there are about 60 nuclear reactors under construction in 15 countries, most notably in China, India, and Russia.

Illustration from International Energy Agency: Nuclear power capacity by country or region in the Net Zero Scenario, 1990-2030
International Energy Agency: Nuclear power capacity by country or 
region in the Net Zero Scenario, 1990-2030

In terms of funding, nuclear investment must triple to $125 billion per year to stay on track in the net zero scenario. Investment averaged only $40 billion per year from 2016-2022, but the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts global investments to increase to over $100 billion per year through 2050.

Illustration from International Energy Agency: Average annual investment in nuclear power by country or region in the Net Zero Scenario, 2011-2030
International Energy Agency: Average annual investment in nuclear power by country or region in the Net Zero Scenario, 2011-2030

Going forward, nuclear power will continue to be an important part of our energy mix. Nuclear power helps avoid 1.5 gigatons of emissions per year and 180 billion cubic meters of global gas demand per year. In the past 50 years, nuclear power has helped avoid over 70 gigatons of emissions

What Is the Carbon Footprint of Nuclear Power

The carbon footprint is one of the ways we measure the effects of human-induced global climate change. It primarily focuses on the GHG emissions associated with consumption, but also includes other emissions such as methane (CH4), nitrous oxide, and chlorofluorocarbons.

Carbon footprint: the amount of greenhouse gasses and specifically carbon dioxide emitted by something (such as a person’s activities or a product’s manufacture and transport) during a given period”

Merriam Webster

Basically, it is the amount of carbon emitted by an activity or an organization. This includes GHG emissions from fuel that we burn directly (e.g., heating a home, driving a car) and GHG emissions from manufacturing the products that we use (e.g., power plants, factories, and landfills). 

All operating nuclear power plants today utilize the process of nuclear fission. Because of this, nuclear fission is commonly referred to simply as ‘nuclear power’ in the data and literature. 

On a life-cycle basis, nuclear power (nuclear fission) emits 12 grams of CO2 equivalent per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity produced, which is tied for the third-lowest out of all energy types.

Have a look at the illustration below to see the average life-cycle CO2 equivalent emissions of different energy sources and how they compare to nuclear.

Illustration of the Average life-cycle CO2 equivalent emissions from World Nuclear Association
World Nuclear Association: Average life-cycle CO2 equivalent emissions

When discussing the carbon footprint of nuclear power, we must take into account carbon emissions across the energy’s building, operating, and building back phases.

The life-cycle stages of nuclear powerEach stage’s carbon footprint
Building of nuclear powerSome CO2 emissions from constructing the nuclear power plant, mining and processing uranium, and transporting nuclear fuel to the power plant
Operating of nuclear powerLittle to no CO2 emissions or waste products
Building back of nuclear powerSome CO2 emissions from transporting used fuel/radioactive material and deconstructing the power plant

Nuclear power makes up 10% of our global electricity generation. Because it is often described as an efficient, safe, and clean energy substitute for fossil fuels, understanding nuclear fission’s carbon footprint and how its carbon emissions affect the global climate change process is important.

Related: Are you interested in more about the carbon footprint of nuclear power? Check it out in this article here: “What Is the Carbon Footprint of Nuclear Power?

How Environmentally Friendly Is Nuclear Power

The overall environmental friendliness of nuclear power is a controversial topic.

“Environmentally friendly: (of products) not harming the environment.”

Cambridge Dictionary

Although the process of nuclear fission produces zero CO2 emissions, the handling and disposal of nuclear waste is a serious issue. On the other hand, experts tout nuclear fusion as a clean, safe, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy source.

What Are Environmental Benefits of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power is expected to continue to play a key role in the clean energy movement. This is because nuclear power: 

  • Has a low carbon footprint: Nuclear fission has an average life-cycle CO2 equivalent emission value that is much less than coal, 12g of CO2 equivalent per kWh compared to 820g of CO2 equivalent per kWh, respectively. And nuclear fusion produces little to no greenhouse gas emissions and toxic byproducts, making it one of our most environmentally-friendly sources of energy. 
  • Promotes energy security: Nuclear power contributes to energy security by increasing the stability of our power grids. Unlike renewable energy, which faces variations in supply and demand, nuclear power can provide a reliable and consistent source of clean energy. 
  • Promotes energy independence: Being able to produce your own electricity without the aid of foreign countries is an important step in becoming self-sufficient. For example, former President George W. Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 to reduce US dependence on oil, expand the production of renewable fuels (and confront global climate change). 

In addition, nuclear fusion comes with the following additional benefits:

  • Uses readily available materials: The nuclear fusion reaction is most readily feasible between deuterium and tritium, two isotopes of hydrogen. Deuterium is naturally abundant in seawater, and tritium can be bred from lithium, which is naturally abundant in the Earth’s crust and in seawater. Compare this to Uranium-235, the ingredient for nuclear fission, which has a concentration of only 2.8 parts per million (0.7% abundance) in the Earth’s crust.
  • Does not produce long-lived nuclear waste: Unlike nuclear fission, nuclear fusion reactions do not produce long-lived nuclear waste. The only byproducts are helium (an inert gas) and tritium. Although tritium is radioactive, it is produced and consumed within the plant in a closed circuit and is only used in low amounts. 
  • Cannot cause a nuclear accident: Unlike nuclear fission, nuclear fusion reactions are not based on chain reactions. Plasma must be kept at very high temperatures and pressures, with the support of external heating systems and magnetic fields. If there is a loss of pressure or temperature, the reactor shuts down with no adverse effects to the outside world.
  • Cannot be used to produce nuclear weapons: Hydrogen bombs do use fusion reactions; however, they require an additional nuclear fission bomb to detonate. Fusion fuel is also continuously injected and consumed in fusion reactors, so there is never enough fuel lying around to produce a weapon.

What Are The Environmental Drawbacks of Nuclear Power

Nuclear power does come with some drawbacks that, if handled properly, can be mitigated. The main environmental drawbacks associated with nuclear power are associated with nuclear fission and include:

  • Uranium mining: This process contaminates the environment with radioactive dust, radon gas, water-borne toxins, and increased levels of background radiation. Exploratory drilling and mining also heavily increase the risk of water contamination. 
  • Long-lived nuclear waste: Although nuclear power produces minimal waste, the waste that it does produce is radioactive and can remain hazardous for many thousands of years. These radioactive waste products include uranium mill tailings, spent (used) reactor fuel, and other radioactive wastes. If these were to leach into the environment it could contaminate the soil and water.

Unlike nuclear fission, nuclear fusion does not generate long-lived radioactive waste. However, experts have noted that nuclear fusion can produce short- to medium-term radioactive waste. Component materials constantly bombarded by neutrons will become radioactive over time and generate nuclear waste. The amount of waste would be comparable to waste generated by nuclear fission, but nuclear fusions’ waste is less radioactive in the long term.

In addition, tritium is weakly radioactive. If tritium were leaked into the environment, it could be difficult to contain given that it can penetrate concrete and rubber. It is also easily incorporated into water and can make water weakly radioactive. Tritium has a half-life of roughly 12 years, meaning it could persist up to 125 years after it is created. 

Although tritium is radioactive, it is produced and consumed within the plant in a closed circuit and is only used in low amounts. Still, the possibility of leaks has spurred research into deuterium-deuterium fusion, because deuterium is not radioactive.

Why Is Nuclear Power Important to Fight Climate Change

Climate change is arguably the most severe, long-term, global impact of fossil fuel combustion. Every year, approximately 33 billion tons (bt) of CO2 are emitted from burning fossil fuels. The carbon found in fossil fuels reacts with oxygen in the air to produce CO2. This warms the earth by acting as a heating blanket, and a warmer earth comes with a host of negative side effects. 

Using nuclear fission instead of fossil fuel energy helps mitigate the following negative effects of climate change:

The more we reduce CO2 emissions, the more we slow the rate of temperature rise, sea-level rise, ice melting, and ocean acidification. When these rates are slowed, the earth’s biodiversity does not have to struggle to adapt to temperature and pH changes. People will not be displaced due to the flooding of coastal areas. And icebergs will continue to provide climate regulation. 

To help keep global temperature rise below 1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, we must shift at least 80% of our electricity generation to low-carbon sources. Over 140 countries have stated a net-zero target, covering roughly 88% of the world’s emissions. However, under current conditions, global emissions are projected to increase by 9% by 2030 instead of the 45% reduction in emissions that is needed.

Final Thoughts

Nuclear power is an incredibly efficient energy source that uses heat acquired from either fusing or splitting the nuclei of atoms to create electricity. Nuclear fusion produces no CO2 emissions and nuclear fusion produces minimal CO2 emissions. The capacity for nuclear power is great, but few countries currently source any or most of their energy from nuclear power.

Nuclear power benefits the environment by mitigating climate change, creating jobs, promoting energy independence, and protecting air quality. Environmental drawbacks associated with nuclear fission include uranium mining and nuclear waste but can be mitigated with proper handling and disposal methods. Nuclear fusion is still in the research and development phase, and more time is needed to perfect the process in a laboratory setting.

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