Exploring Nuclear Energy

Exploring Nuclear Energy

Exploring Nuclear Energy - 10/18/17 - ©The NEED Project

Nuclear Fusion and Fission

Iron is the “dead end” of both fusion and fission – it is the lowest energy nucleus and cannot be split or fused.

• Nuclear Fusion• Small nuclei into large• Immense temperature

and pressure• Core of stars

• Nuclear Fission• Large nuclei into small• Critical mass to sustain• Two isotopes we use

235U 239Pu


Global Total Primary Energy Supply, 2015Nuclear provides about 5% of total energy and 10.6% of global electricity generation.

Data: International Energy Agency

Coal28.1%

Crude Oil31.8%

Natural Gas21.6%

Nuclear4.9%

Hydropower2.5%

Geothermal, solar, etc.

1.5%

Biofuels and waste9.7%


Top 10 Nuclear Generating Countries, 2014

Data: Energy Information Administration

United States

France Russia South Korea China Canada Germany Ukraine Sweden United Kingdom

Spain0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Billi

on K

ilow

att-h

ours


Primary Energy Consumption by Source and Sector-- 2015

Source: Energy Information Administration


U.S. Electricity Production 2015Data provided by US EIA Net Generation by Energy Source

Coal33.1%

Natural Gas32.6%

Nuclear19.4%

Hydro-electric

6.0%

Biomass1.6%

Wind4.7%

Petroleum0.7%

Geothermal0.4%

Solar0.9% Other

0.6%


U.S. Electricity Flow 2015 Quadrillion Btu


Nuclear Energy Production

Data: Nuclear Energy Institute

State % Electricity from Nuclear

U.S. Total 19.50%

South Carolina 55.06%

New Hampshire 47.04%

Illinois 50.14%

Connecticut 46.25%

New Jersey 44.24%

Virginia 33.27%

Maryland 40.24%

Pennsylvania 37.28%

Tennessee 33.10%

North Carolina 32.65%

New York 31.92%

Michigan 25.70%

Arizona 28.69%

Alabama 27.42%


Anatomy of a Nuclear Power Plant

Source: NRC


Anatomy of a Nuclear Power Plant

Source: NRC


Advantages of Nuclear Power• Clean• Plentiful Supply• High energy content in uranium

• Small fuel pellet• Can provide base load power • Energy savings in transportation

• Operating cost is low after construction


Drawbacks to Using Nuclear Power• Initial construction costs• Radioactive waste byproduct• Storage• Natural disasters• Public perception


New Nuclear Technologies• Modular, small-scale reactors• Breeder reactors• http://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/energy-sources/nuclear

Image courtesy of Department of Energy


Food for thought…Of the 15 methods (wedges) proposed by a Princeton University study to stabilize Carbon Dioxide emissions, 13 of them relate energy use. Implementation of any 7 would accomplish the goal of stabilizing emissions.

1. Efficient vehicles2. Reduced use of vehicles3. Efficient buildings4. Efficient coal power plants5. Gas instead of coal power plants6. Capture CO2 at base load power plant7. Nuclear power for coal power8. Wind power for coal power9. Photovoltaic power for coal power10. Capture CO2 at H2 plant11. Capture CO2 at coal-to-synfuels plant12. Wind H2 in fuel-cell car for gasoline in hybrid

car13. Biomass fuel for fossil fuel


For More InformationThe NEED Project

• www.need.org• [email protected]• 1-800-875-5029

Energy Information Administration

• U.S. Department of Energy• www.eia.gov

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.eia.gov/

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Exploring Nuclear Energy