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Nuclear power

The main nuclear fuels are uranium and plutonium. In a nuclear power station, a nuclear reaction releases heat – nuclear energy is converted to heat energy:

  • heat is used to change water into steam in the boiler
  • the steam drives the turbine (heat to kinetic energy)
  • this drives the generator to produce electricity – kinetic to electrical energy

Advantages of nuclear power

  • Unlike fossil fuels, nuclear fuels do not produce carbon dioxide or sulphur dioxide.
  • Nuclear power stations are reliable sources of energy, meaning they can provide power whenever it is needed.
  • 1 kilogram of nuclear fuel produces millions of times more energy than 1 kilogram of coal.

Disadvantages of nuclear power

  • Like fossil fuels, nuclear fuels are non-renewable energy resources.
  • Although modern reactor designs are extremely safe, if there is an accident, large amounts of radioactive material could be released into the environment.
  • Nuclear waste remains radioactive and is hazardous to health for thousands of years, so it must be stored safely.