Generating Electricity: Nuclear Energy

Nuclear energy provides about 15% of Canada's electricity. As of 2019, Canada has 19 nuclear reactors. 18 are in Ontario. One is in New Brunswick. 

So how does nuclear energy generate electricity? Let’s find out. 

People often use thermal energy to generate electricity. Thermal energy is another name for “heat energy.” Thermal energy heats water. The heated water forms steam. Many places around the world burn fossil fuels to get this heat. Some examples of fossil fuels are:

• coal
• oil (petroleum)
• natural gases
   

Nuclear reactors also use heat to generate electricity. But nuclear power plants don’t burn fossil fuels for heat. Instead, they use uranium for fuel. Uranium is a chemical element. It gives off energy naturally. A lot of uranium in Canada comes from the Athabasca Basin. That is a region in Northern Saskatchewan.  

Uranium atoms split apart through a process called fission. When many atoms split at the same time, there is a huge release of energy.  This energy is released in the form of heat energy. This heat energy boils water. The boiled water creates steam. The steam flows to turbines. Turbines are connected to a shaft that spins. The shaft runs through the turbine into a generator. The generator generates electricity.

Then, a system pumps in cold water. This cold water comes from an outside body of water. For example, sometimes it comes from a lake. The cold water cools and condenses the steam. The cooling steam turns back to liquid water. 

Uranium fuel is radioactive. That’s why it can generate electricity. But over time, uranium fuel becomes less radioactive. Eventually, it will no longer be radioactive enough. When that happens, the spent fuel must be stored. 

Nuclear reactors do not emit carbon dioxide. That’s a big advantage. But they do produce radioactive spent fuel. This fuel keeps decaying for many years. It is important to store that fuel safely.