Nuclear power involves the controlled use of nuclear fission to release energy for work such as propulsion, heat, and the generation of electricity. Nuclear energy is produced by a controlled nuclear chain reaction and creates heat which can be used to boil water, produce steam, or drive a steam turbine. The turbine can be used for mechanical work or to generate electricity.

In 2005, nuclear power provided 6.5% of the world's energy and 15.7% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan accounting for 57% of all nuclear generated electricity. In 2007, the IAEA reported there were 435 nuclear power reactors in operation in 31 countries throughout the world.

The United States produces the most nuclear energy, with nuclear power providing 20% of the electricity it consumes. France produces the highest percentage of electrical energy from nuclear reactors - 80% as of 2006. In the European Union as a whole, nuclear energy generates 30% of all electricity. Nuclear energy policy differs among European Union countries, and some, such as Austria and Ireland, have no active nuclear power stations. By contrast, France has a large number of plants, with 16 currently in use throughout the country.

Many military and some civilian (e.g., icebreaker) ships use nuclear marine propulsion, a form of nuclear propulsion.

Research is ongoing into safety improvements such as passively safe plants, the use of nuclear fusion, and additional uses of produced heat such as hydrogen production in support of a hydrogen economy, for desalinating seawater, and for use in district heating systems.

Nuclear energy will continue to have an important role in the production of electricity worldwide. This report focuses on the nuclear power industry in emerging economies – specifically China, India, and Russia. The report also explores the importance of nuclear power and looks at the basics of the nuclear industry such as the workings of nuclear plants, the uranium fuel cycle, and the economics of nuclear power. The country analyses presented here include information on each country’s nuclear power industry, regulatory and industry developments, reactor technology, non-proliferation issues, and more. This report also examines the leading companies in the nuclear power industry today.






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Pages: 130
Publication Date: April 2008
Publisher: Energy Business Reports