Nuclear power is a great sustainable power source able to compete with sources like fossil fuels. With a complete combustion or fission, approx. 8 kWh of heat can be generated from 1 kg of coal, approx. 12 kWh from 1 kg of mineral oil and around 24,000,000 kWh from 1 kg of uranium-235. Related to one kilogram, uranium-235 contains two to three million times the energy equivalent of oil or coal. The illustration shows how much coal, oil or natural uranium is required for a certain quantity of electricity. Thus, 1 kg natural uranium - following a corresponding enrichment and used for power generation in light water reactors - corresponds to nearly 10,000 kg of mineral oil or 14,000 kg of coal and enables the generation of 45,000 kWh of electricity.
What really make this such a better power source is there are no harmful emissions. Nine out of ten technologies that hold potential for energy and CO2 emissions savings are failing to meet the deployment objectives needed to achieve the necessary transition to a low-carbon future. Some of the technologies with the largest potential are showing the least progress.
Also there is the upcoming potential of nuclear fusion which is what powers the sun it also does not produce harmful emissions. This will be an even better source of power than fission, because it doesn't require any radioactive material, just hydrogen. The reason this is not currently in use is because of the amount of power produced doesn't mach the energy needed to start the reaction. In a research facility last September the first time in human history a fusion reactor produced more energy now more research is being done to make this feasible as a functional power source.
What really make this such a better power source is there are no harmful emissions. Nine out of ten technologies that hold potential for energy and CO2 emissions savings are failing to meet the deployment objectives needed to achieve the necessary transition to a low-carbon future. Some of the technologies with the largest potential are showing the least progress.
Also there is the upcoming potential of nuclear fusion which is what powers the sun it also does not produce harmful emissions. This will be an even better source of power than fission, because it doesn't require any radioactive material, just hydrogen. The reason this is not currently in use is because of the amount of power produced doesn't mach the energy needed to start the reaction. In a research facility last September the first time in human history a fusion reactor produced more energy now more research is being done to make this feasible as a functional power source.