The majority of the heat generated goes into the environment.
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/cooling-power-plants
… currently operating nuclear plants often do have slightly lower thermal efficiency than coal counterparts of similar age, and coal plants discharge some waste heat with combustion gases, whereas nuclear plants rely on water.
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Don’t suggest I want to shut down NPP to replace them with coal-fired plants, but, coal-fired plants are
notoriously inefficient.
The environmental effects of this waste heat are significant.
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/cooling-power-plants#environmental-and-social-aspects-of-coolingEnvironmental and social aspects of cooling
Each of the different methods of cooling entails their own set of local environmental and social impacts and is subject to regulation.
In the case of direct cooling, impacts include the amount of water withdrawn and the effects upon organisms in the aquatic environment, particularly fish and crustaceans. This latter includes both kills due to impingement (trapping of larger fish on screens) and entrainment (drawing of smaller fish, eggs and larvae through cooling systems) and the change in ecosystem conditions brought about by the increase in temperature of the discharge water.
In the case of wet cooling towers, impacts include water consumption (as distinct from just abstraction) and the effects of the visual plume of vapour emitted from the cooling tower. Many people consider such plumes as a disturbance, while in cold conditions some tower designs allow ice to form which may coat the ground or nearby surfaces. Another possible problem is carryover, where salt and other contaminants may be present in the water droplets.
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Wouldn’t it make sense to put that “waste heat” to more productive use than heating the environment?
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/energy-and-the-environment/hydrogen-production-and-uses
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The role of nuclear power
Nuclear power already produces electricity as a major energy carrier with well-known applications. Operating at very high capacity factors, nuclear energy is well placed to produce zero-carbon hydrogen as an emerging energy carrier with a wide range of applications. The evolution of nuclear energy's role in hydrogen production over perhaps two decades is seen to be:
- Cold electrolysis of water, using off-peak capacity (needs 50-55 kWh/kg).
- Low-temperature steam electrolysis, using heat and electricity from nuclear reactors.
- High-temperature steam electrolysis, using heat and electricity from nuclear reactors.
- High-temperature thermochemical production using nuclear heat.
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