Studies like the nuclear energy agency s system costs analysis 2019 have shown that in a renewables dominated grid including firm low carbon sources such as nuclear or hydro reduces overall costs even if the firm sources are much more expensive than renewables on a per unit energy basis. Nuclear energy almost accounts for a quarter of total electrical output in the united states. The country s nuclear reactors produced 805 billion kwh in 2017 20 of total electrical output.
Today nuclear energy is a key component to the united states energy infrastructure. Nuclear power plants can generate a lot of electricity from a very small amount of uranium and no pollution released. And additional energy is released.
Lesson for kids. Electricity is a fundamental resource for today s society so reducing the costs of nuclear energy can favor more people s access to electricity. Nuclear energy is used to produce electricity in a more economical and sustainable way as long as it is put to good use.
List of 10 examples of nuclear energy 1 electricity production. To learn more explore examples of nuclear energy and how it is used. While nuclear weapons are one use of nuclear energy there are several other uses that have both advantages and disadvantages.
Nuclear energy might have your head swimming with images of a mushroom cloud. Currently nuclear power makes up 10 of the energy used around the globe. An uncontrolled fission reaction provides the destructive force of a nuclear bomb.
The fusion reaction in the sun provides our planet with all of the energy it needs for living organisms to survive. A fission reaction at a nuclear power plant provides enough energy to give electricity to large cities.
