The US nuclear power plants generated 807 Billion KWh of power and improved their efficiency of power production last year, according to Nuclear Energy Institute.
According to the figures released by the Nuclear Energy Institute, the US nuclear power plants generated all time high electricity and improved their efficiency in 2007, as reported by Reliableplant.
Nuclear Energy Institute also revealed that approx 807 Billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) electricity was generated by the US nuclear power plants in 2007, an increase of 2% from 788.5 Billion kWh in 2006. Besides, the average production cost of electricity touched a record low last year. In 2007, the average production cost of electricity was 1.68 Cents/kWh, moderately low against 1.72 Cents/kWh in the previous year.
Rising oil and gas price continues to remain a headache for the US consumers and its effect appeared as increased production of electricity through nuclear plants. The US is searching alternative sources of power generation that reduce dependence upon imported energy sources. Moreover, electricity generation through nuclear power plants is cheaper and reliable.
The US is also focusing on reducing the emission of carbon dioxide. Nuclear power plants release lesser amount of greenhouse gases as compared to conventional energy plants and are thus environment friendly.
Moreover, nuclear energy makes the country self-dependent for energy. It is helping to produce hydrogen and process heat for other applications. Including this, conventional sources of energy, including natural gas and coal plants, are low capacity plants. They do not produce sufficient electricity for the country. But now electricity can be generated at higher level with nuclear plants.
Hence, the government has commenced Nuclear Power 2010 program with a view to further enhance the electricity generation capability. The program is a coordinated effort of the government and industry to push away uncertainties linked with construction of the plants. The program will get $135 Million in fiscal 2008.
According to a Senior Research Analyst at RNCOS, “The US power producers are focusing on power generation from nuclear power plants to meet the escalating energy demand in the country. In fact, as the demand for electricity is increasing in the US, its nuclear industry is growing rapidly. However, before giving license to any company for energy production from nuclear plant, the government must consider its side-effects that may be harmful for mankind.”
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