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The Nuclear Industry
Frequently Asked Questions
With energy demand expected to grow 50 percent by 2030 and America’s increasing reliance on foreign sources of energy, nuclear energy must play an increased role in addressing our nation’s and the world’s growing energy needs. Nuclear power is a clean, safe and affordable energy source that will help diversify our energy supply and reduce our dependence on foreign oil. In order to further nuclear energy, the industry must clean up the nuclear waste legacy of the past and manage current nuclear waste issues. This will pave the way for a bright future for nuclear power.
There are many questions about nuclear power. If you have questions about EnergySolutions and nuclear energy in general, this is the place to find answers. Throughout this site, you’ll see the facts, figures, and statistics you need to understand what we do and how we do it. And, if you don’t see the answer you’re looking for, you can ask us yourself using the form on the right, where it’s quick and easy to ask questions and get responses.
What is Nuclear Power?
Nuclear power refers to the energy released from reactions involving the nucleus of an atom. Nuclear reactions include nuclear fission (splitting atoms) and fusion (combining atoms). Electricity can be generated from the heat produced by nuclear reactions.
How is Nuclear Power Created?
The heat created from a controlled nuclear chain reaction is used to boil water. The steam produced drives turbines connected to electrical generators that convert mechanical energy into electricity.
Is it safe?
The use of nuclear energy for electricity generation is extremely safe and has an exemplary safety record. This is due to modern power plant design features, the industry's adherence to safety standards, and regulatory oversight.
Do we really need Nuclear Power?
Our lives are benefited in many ways by an abundant supply of energy. Nuclear power provides a significant portion of our nation's and the world's electricity. Countries with growing and thriving economies rely on dependable energy supplies. Energy resources for nuclear power are abundant and available both in the US and from friendly and stable countries (e.g., Canada, Australia).
How much does the United States use Nuclear Power?
More than 780 billion kilowatt hours or about 20% of the electricity used in the US, is generated by nuclear power plants.
What about nuclear waste?
Most of the waste from nuclear power plants is low-level radioactive waste and can be safely disposed using available and reliable technology. The high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants includes spent nuclear fuel. Spent nuclear fuel is safely stored in pools at the power plants and in engineered casks at storage sites. Eventually, the spent nuclear fuel will be disposed in a geologic repository, the proposed repository is Yucca Mountain in Nevada. Currently in the US, there is about 58,000 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel in storage and about 2,000 metric tons are generated annually.
What are the different types of radiation?
Radiation is energy in the form of electromagnetic waves (e.g., visible light, X-rays) or subatomic particles in motion (e.g., solar wind). Radiation that has enough energy to move particles from atoms is classified as ionizing radiation. Radioactive material emits ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation is emitted by light bulbs, microwave ovens, cell phones, laser pens, wireless remote controls, and radiant home heating systems.
What produces radiation in our everyday life?
Ionizing radiation and radioactive material comes from and is present in natural and everyday sources such as rocks, soil, concrete, natural radon in air, tobacco smoke and cosmic radiation from the outdoors. Other materials also have lesser amounts of radioactivity, including wood, water, food, plastic, and rain drops.
What other countries rely on Nuclear Power?
Some 30 countries have a combined total of more than 430 nuclear power plants. Nine of these rely on nuclear power to supply around 40 percent or more of their electricity. These include France, Belgium, Sweden, South Korea and Switzerland. Countries that are more reliant on nuclear power than the US include Japan, Germany, Spain and Finland.
