What is nuclear energy?

Everything around you consists of small objects called Atoms. Most of the mass of each atom is concentrated in the center (called the nucleus) and the rest of the mass is in the electron cloud around the nucleus. Proton and neutron are elementary particles containing nuclei

In some cases, a very large nucleus may be divided into two parts. In this process, according to Einstein's famous formula E = MC 2, an amount of large atomic mass is converted to pure energy. Where M is the small mass and C is the speed of light (a very large amount). In the 1930s and 1940s, humans discovered this energy and realized the possibilities as weapons. The technology Manhattan plans to develop is using this energy successfully for the chain reaction to make a nuclear bomb. Shortly after the end of World War II, the newly discovered energy was the starting point for the progress of nuclear powered submarines and provided engines to submarines that could run for more than a year without refueling. This technology was immediately transferred to the public sector, where commercial power plants were developed and electricity was generated. Read more about the history of nuclear power

Reactors generate less than 20% of power in the United States. There are more than 400 power reactors in the world (about 100 in the United States). Generate base load electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week without releasing contaminants (including carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere. However, they produce radioactive nuclear waste and must be kept carefully.

Discussions on the future of energy have intensely discussed issues on the role nuclear power (if any) has to play for decades. This discussion is quite interesting, but I think it may be misunderstood: Nuclear power can run 100% of society-wide economy, energy supply. Intermediary in discussion on energy (a compromise in favor of a praiseworthy attempt and a compromise of anti-nuclear battle) states that "discussing all the energy options necessary to solve climate / energy issues" to calm the discussion I may try. The statement is also in other forms, such as "I can not solve this problem", "There is no cure for a panacea of ​​climate or energy", or "I can not exclude selection because it is not preferred".

Compared to what we spend to pay energy today, how much is the cost of a 100% nuclear power system? Intermediaries say that 100% of nuclear energy is not as realistic as 100% renewable energy, or it is fundamentally incorrect in climate / energy challenges To solve many concepts "All Necessary technology required ". As almost all scientists have claimed recently, these are all of them. All other types of energy demand (zone heating, process heat, fossil fuels can not be replaced by electricity) are supplied by electricity, electrolysis hydrogen synthesis fuel, or a combination of heat from nuclear boilers and heaters I think.