Decommissioning

DecommissioningIntroduction Figure 1: UK Magnox power plant in Bradwell enters Care and Maintenance, where it will be left to decay before final demolition. (Source: UK Government. Reproduced under open license) All nuclear facilities have a finite operating life. For commercial nuclear power plants, this is typically 30 – 60 years. Around the world, over 115…

Energy

Energy Nuclear energy is a key component of the energy mix around the world. There are more than 400 nuclear power plants in operation, seventy under construction and several dozen new projects are under study. How does a nuclear power plant work? Figure 1: The different components of a Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) power plant.…

Food and Agriculture

Food and agricultureNuclear technology for food and agriculture It is expected that by 2050, the world’s population will have increased by one-third, with the highest increase occurring in developing countries; and with it, our needs for sustainable food and water as well. Nuclear technologies provide competitive and often unique solutions to help fight hunger and…

Industrial applications

Industrial applications Nuclear technology is a major contributor to industrial development and it is present in many aspects of our daily lives. Neutron Transmutation Doped silicon: The What, why and how Figure 1: Silicon is irradiated with neutrons, resulting in transmutation into a stable 31P isotope.2 Computers, wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, high-speed trains, hybrid cars:…

Innovation

Innovation The applications of nuclear are continually being furthered by innovative research. Clean energy futures In order to provide a reliable baseload supply to the energy grid which is also a clean, low carbon source of energy, nuclear power is required. Three generations of nuclear reactors have provided clean electricity for over 50 years, however…

nuclear medicine

Medical

MedicalWhat is nuclear medicine? Medical applications of nuclear technology are used all over the world. Every year, 30 million people benefit from a diagnostic procedure or treatment by nuclear medicine for at least 60 different pathologies- and these numbers are steadily increasing. These medical applications save lives. They are now used in the fight against…

Radioactivity

What is radioactivity? Radioactivity is a natural phenomenon that has existed since the origins of the Earth. It is present everywhere: in the water, the air, the soil and the biota. The human being itself is radioactive. There are two types of radioactivity: natural radioactivity and artificial radioactivity, also known as induced or man-made radioactivity…

Safety

Nuclear safety Safety is the priority for the European nuclear industry. Maintaining a high level of safety is non-negotiable for the long-term operation of existing nuclear power plants, for new-build projects and for gaining public acceptance of and confidence in nuclear technology. In every country that has a nuclear programme or is embarking on one,…

Space

Space The applications of nuclear technology extend beyond our planet too. Without it, space travel and exploration would be extremely difficult. It is used to generate power, but also for scientific observation purposes. Nuclear Batteries Modern space travel would be unimaginable without the power of the nucleus. Chemical energy carriers like combustible solutions do not…

Nuclear Basics Waste

Waste

Radioactive Waste Radioactive waste includes all types of waste that are radioactive. They need to be treated and stored and handled with the necessary security. There are different kind of waste types, with different levels of radioactivity, and they are all differently treated. Where does radioactive waste come from? Figure 1 Different sources of nuclear…