Nuclear Energy

Breaking up atomic nuclei yields to a huge amount of energy. Obtained through fission and fusion reactions, this energy is called the "nucleus energy" or "nuclear energy".

Nuclear reactors are systems that transform nuclear energy to electricity. Fundamentally speaking, nuclear energy released as a result of fission is transformed to thermal energy within nuclear fuel and other materials, which thermal energy is in turn converted into kinetic energy and then into electricity within the generator system.

Fuels used in nuclear power plants will be stored on-site for 10 to 20 years, during which time they will lose over 98% of their active properties. And the long lived radioactive substances, which are the real problem, will be vitrified and will, according to principles of gradual preservation, be placed in lead, concrete and corrosion-resistant containers where they will be stored in shielded concrete underground galleries to be built 1.000 m under surface in geologically stable areas. A 1.000 MWe nuclear reactor produces about 27 tons (7 m³) of used fuel in a year.

Environmental impact of fossil fuel powered (especially coal powered) power plants is too negative to be even compared to nuclear power plants. On the contrary, nuclear power plants must be preferred for their environmental qualities. Maximum radiation from nuclear reactors under normal operational conditions is limited to 0,1 to 1 of the natural radiation level, and the situation in practice is even below these limits.

For the continuity of electricity generation, nuclear power plants are safer and have higher availability compared to thermal and hydraulic power plants.

Next to global developments that make renewable energy sources more common spread, nuclear energy investment projects are also gaining impetus worldwide.

Based on electricity energy supply and demand projections, 5.000 MW nuclear power plant capacity is planned to be commissioned as of 2015. To that end, Law No. 5710 on Construction and Operation of Nuclear Power Plants and Law on Sale of Energy (2007) were enacted. Construction of nuclear power plants is in progress. While license has been obtained for the first nuclear power plant of Turkey, which is planned in Mersin-Akkuyu, licensing work for Sinop is underway.

Source: Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources