Reviewing Renewable Technologies / Part Two Nuclear

Currently approximately ten percent of the world's electricity is generated by 440 nuclear power reactors. New Zealand does not use electricity from nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy is the nucleus (core) of an atom. Atoms make up all matter in the universe, and energy is what holds the nucleus together. Atoms must be split to release nuclear energy. It is a process called nuclear fission and is controlled by a nuclear reactor, or power plant. The fuel that nuclear reactors use to produce nuclear fission is pellets of the element uranium. Atoms of uranium are forced to break apart and they release tiny particles called fission products. Fission products cause other uranium atoms to split, starting a chain reaction. The energy released from this chain reaction creates heat. This heat warms the reactor's cooling agent, which is usually water, liquid metal or molten salt. Steam is produced, which turns the turbine and drives the generator to create electricity.

The cons of nuclear energy include uranium technically being non-renewable, as nuclear technology relies on uranium ore for fuel and only exists in limited amounts in the earth’s crust. The initial costs are huge and the disposal of nuclear waste, which is a dangerous by-product of nuclear power plants.