Duke Energy’s Crystal River Nuclear Plant Readies for Retirement
Since the first U.S. nuclear power plant opened its doors for commercial operation in 1958 until today, the nuclear industry has grown to serve nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population’s energy needs. Though most nuclear power plants that began...
Small, Modular Reactors Driving Nuclear Industry to New Energy Frontiers
Small modular reactors (SMRs) produce 300 megawatts or less of power, and are about one-third the size of conventional nuclear reactors. Like the Mini Coopers of the automotive world, a new generation of mini-nuclear reactors may soon be driving ...
International Nuclear Growth Spurs U.S. Economy
The reactor containment dome of Changjiang 1, a Chinese nuclear unit, is lowered into place (Image: CNECC).
Since 2007, the U.S. economy has been shaking off a deep recession that left many people jobless and companies scrambling to avoid bankruptcy....
New Regional Response Centers Add Another Level of Preparedness
On March 11, 2011, an earthquake struck the Japanese coastline, followed by a tsunami that flooded towns and claimed thousands of lives. The heavy floodwaters also damaged the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. Pictured above is the tsunami ...
Natural Nuclear Reactors - Two Billion Years-Old!
Rethink for just a minute what you know about nuclear energy. Set aside the idea that nuclear energy can only be produced at highly engineered nuclear reactors with multiple, redundant safety features. Site of the Oklo natural nuclear reactors in ...
Thorium - The Smart Rock
The amount of thorium it would take to provide one individual with all the power to run his or her entire life is the size of a marble. The proposal to use thorium in nuclear reactors has been a tantalizing possibility since the 1970s. Thorium, aptly ...
Energy Education Centers Share the Industry's Story
You don't have to be a nuclear scientist to understand nuclear energy. That’s why many nuclear power stations across the U.S. offer nuclear energy education centers on or near their sites. By teaching and welcoming the public, the nuclear industry ...
In This Industry, Partnerships Are Key - Part 2
This is the second part of a two-part series on key partnerships in the nuclear industry. Click here to read part 1. The success of the nuclear industry relies on a plethora of community and professional partnerships. Nuclear professionals build ...
Nuclear Energy Spans the Globe
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the United States will need 22 percent more electricity by the year 2035. Across the globe, energy consumption will increase to approximately 1,700 terawatt-hours; this is the equivalent of home electricity ...
Nuclear Energy - Made in China
China's Nuclear Program Experiencing Rapid Growth Within 20 to 30 years, China could emerge as a world leader in nuclear generation as it transitions a significant portion of its power-generating system to nuclear energy.1 Already, China has 15 ...