NUCLEAR ENERGY

   Origin: nuclear energy is energy in the nucleus (core) of an atom. There is enormous energy in the bonds that hold atoms together.
Nuclear energy can be used to make electricity. But first the energy must be released. It can be released from atoms in two ways: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission.

Extraction: the fuel most widely used by nuclear plants for nuclear fission is uranium. Uranium is non-renewable, though it is a common metal found in rocks all over the world.

During nuclear fission, a small particle called a neutron hits the uranium atom and splits it, releasing a great amount of energy as heat and radiation. More neutrons are also released. These neutrons go on to bombard other uranium atoms, and the process repeats itself over and over again. This is called a chain reaction.

  Utilities: fission generates heat in a reactor just as coal generates heat in a boiler. The heat is used to boil water into steam. The steam turns huge turbine blades. As they turn, they drive generators that make electricity. Afterward, the steam is changed back into water and cooled in a separate structure at the power plant called a cooling tower. The water can be used again and again.

Producer regions: the most important producers of nuclear energy are United States, France, Japan, Germany and Russia.

World´s nuclear energy production