Nuclear power thermal pollution

Nuclear power generation is used to provide clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the thermoelectric power sector is also one of the largest sources of freshwater thermal pollution due to excess heat discharged from the cooling systems required to operate the power plants. An increase in surface water temperature causes environmental stress to aquatic ecosystems.

Nº 78

Great Lakes, several Mississippi subbasins, the Danube, and the Yangtze

some attempts made
past case
Region-1
Region-2
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ongoing case
no attempts made

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Nuclear power thermal pollution

Nuclear power generation is used to provide clean energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the thermoelectric power sector is also one of the largest sources of freshwater thermal pollution due to excess heat discharged from the cooling systems required to operate the power plants. An increase in surface water temperature causes environmental stress to aquatic ecosystems.

The Great Lakes, various sub-basins of the Mississippi River, the Danube River and the Yangtze River are recognised as some of the world’s most affected watersheds by thermal pollution. These water bodies are experiencing elevated temperatures due to the release of heat, primarily from coal-fired and nuclear power plants.

Catherine E. Raptis, Justin M. Boucher, Stephan Pfister (2017). Assessing the environmental impacts of freshwater thermal pollution from global power generation in LCA. Science of The Total Environment, 580, 1014-1026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.056.

Raptis, C. E., Boucher, J. M., & Pfister, S. (2017). Assessing the environmental impacts of freshwater thermal pollution from global power generation in LCA. Science of the Total Environment, 580, 1014-1026.