Nuclear power plant
Thermal power station where the heat source is a nuclear reactor / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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A nuclear power plant (NPP)[1] or atomic power station (APS) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power stations, heat is used to generate steam that drives a steam turbine connected to a generator that produces electricity. As of September 2023[update], the International Atomic Energy Agency reported there were 410 nuclear power reactors in operation in 32 countries around the world, and 57 nuclear power reactors under construction.[2][3][4]
Nuclear plants are very often used for base load since their operations, maintenance, and fuel costs are at the lower end of the spectrum of costs.[5] However, building a nuclear power plant often spans five to ten years, which can accrue to significant financial costs, depending on how the initial investments are financed.[6]
Nuclear power plants have a carbon footprint comparable to that of renewable energy such as solar farms and wind farms,[7][8] and much lower than fossil fuels such as natural gas and coal. They do, however, have other environmental consequences, including waste heat and radioactive waste. Nuclear power plants are among the safest modes of electricity generation,[9] comparable to solar and wind power plants.[10]