Nuclear Power

Nuclear power includes fission and fusion. For nuclear fission, the nucleus of uranium molecules , U²³⁵, can be split to release large amounts of energy. About 500 power plants world wide now use this technology. If we looked to nuclear power for 10 TW/year, known reserves of U²³⁵ would last only 6-30 years.

Nuclear fusion relies on a large energy release when neutrons or heavy forms of hydrogen are combined with each other or with helium or lithium to add or remove neutrons. Forcing fusion requires nuclear particles to be confined for a minimum amount of time at high density. This form of primary energy has been researched for decades, and, while progress has been made, substantial hurdles remain before this source becomes commercially available.

Reference:

Hoffert M. I., K. Caldeira, G. Benford, D. R. Criswell, C. Green, H. Herzog, A. K. Jain, H. S. Kheshgi, K. S. Lackner, J. S. Lewis, H. D. Lightfoot, W. Manheimer, J. C. Mankins, M. E. Mauel, L. J. Perkins, M.E. Schlesinger, T. Volk, and T. M. L. Wigley, 2002: Advanced technology paths to global climate stability: Energy for a greenhouse planet. Science 298, 981-987

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