Nuclear energy is electrical power generated by harnessing the heat released from nuclear fission of heavy isotopes, typically uranium-235, in a controlled reactor. It provides high-density, low-carbon, dispatchable baseload generation independent of weather conditions. Its role in decarbonisation is balanced against concerns over capital cost, long construction times, radioactive-waste management, and safety.
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- Reactors convert fission heat into steam to drive turbines, delivering steady output with very low operational emissions. Interest is growing in small modular reactors to reduce capital risk and siting constraints, particularly for powering energy-intensive workloads such as data centres, while waste disposal and public acceptance remain the principal barriers.