What do nuclear power stations emit?

Answer 1

Nuclear power stations operate by the fission of unstable heavy isotopes. The energy from this reaction converts water into steam which in turn drives a turbine to produce electricity. Nothing in this nuclear reaction results in the release of greenhouse gasses.

Answer 2

Nuclear power plants do not normally release smoke. Water condensed from heat exchangers rises like steam from cooling towers, and this might look like smoke. Sometimes there are accidental fires at nuclear plants, releasing smoke, but this is not normal.

Of course smoke is created in the mining, refining, enrichment, transportation, construction, decommissioning, and so on. We do not know about waste handling, because no one has yet figured out how this is to be done. All of this could contribute smoke, and certainly contributes to nuclear power's carbon footprint, which is a multiple of that of wind, hydro, and solar.

The enrichment process for nuclear fuel is very energy intensive operation. In the United States, it is powered almost entirely by a coal burning power plant that has been described as the dirtiest in the country.

Answer 3

Nuclear power stations emit very low levels of carbon dioxide during the electricity generation process. However, they do not emit greenhouse gases like methane or nitrous oxide. The primary emissions from nuclear power stations are steam and water vapor.

Answer 4

Waste products we don't know how to (are are not interested in) recycle, and lots of steam.

Answer 5

They provide nuclear energy.