Nuclear energy: the basics

How is electricity generated at a nuclear power station? What about safety? Find out how a nuclear power station works!

If we take into account the entire life cycle of a nuclear power station (that is, from the extraction and transport of raw materials, through the construction of the station and the generation of electricity itself, right through to the decommissioning of the station and the storage and treatment of waste), the CO₂ emissions from nuclear energy per kWh generated are comparable to those from renewable energy.

Around 70 years ago, the first reactors able to generate electricity from nuclear energy were commissioned. Since then, they have undergone a complete transformation. Find out here about the different generations of nuclear reactors and learn about the nuclear reactors of the future.

A familiar sight: the plume of white smoke rising from the cooling towers of a nuclear power station. But what is this smoke made of? It contains no CO₂ or radioactive substances, but simply water vapour, just like in a hot shower.