Nuclear energy uses fuel made from mined and processed uranium to make steam and generate electricity. It is the only source of electricity that can produce a large amount of power.
Nuclear energy: the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion, especially when used to generate electricity.
What is it used for ?
Nuclear power is used to provide electricity for homes, offices and factories.
Nuclear use in San Diego, 2010
In the year 2010 San Diego nuclear power provided almost 14 percent of the entire power mix of California.
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station:
The plant's first operated from 1968 to 1992.
Unit 2 started in 1983
Unit 3 started in 1984
The power plant had to shut down in January 2012 due to premature wear found on over 3,000 tubes in replacement steam generators that had been installed in 20101 and 2011. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission said that the modifications proved to be "unsafe and posed a danger" to those who live with in 50 miles of the plant.
The U.S. : The United States is the largest producer of nuclear power. It accounts for more than 30 percent of the world wide nuclear generation of electricity.
California:Japan: Before the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March of 2011 and the resulting damage of the disaster, Japan had generates 30 percent of its electrical power from nuclear reactors. After the incident in Fukushima all of Japan's nuclear power plants have been suspended for safety inspections. |
The USA has 99 nuclear reactors in 30 states all operated by different companies. Since the year 2001 these plants have achieved an average capacity factor of 90 percent 807 billion kWh per year and accounting for 20 percent of total electricity generated.
|