India aims to increase its nuclear power production from the current level of over 8,000 MW to 1 lakh MW by 2047, according to a report titled 'Synchronising Energy Transitions Towards Possible Net Zero for India: Affordable and Clean Energy for All'.
Nuclear energy comes from the core of atoms, which is made up of protons and neutrons. This energy can be created in two ways: fission - when atoms' nuclei split into several parts - and fusion - when nuclei join together. Today, the world generates electricity from nuclear fission, while electricity generation from fusion is still in the research and development phase.
Pressurized water reactor (PWR)
Pressurized Water Reactors (PWRs) are the most common type. They are used for power generation in around 300 reactors and for naval propulsion in several hundred more. The design of PWRs was originally used for submarine power plants. Ordinary water as both coolant and moderator are used in PWR.
Boiling water reactor (BWR)
This type of reactor is similar to the PWR, but there's only one circuit in which the water is at lower pressure than the usual. This causes it to boil in the core at around 285°C. The reactor works with 12-15% of the water in the top part of the core as steam. This has a less moderating effect and efficiency.
Pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR)
The PHWR reactor was developed in Canada as CANDU in the 1950s and in India since the 1980s. PHWRs use natural uranium oxide as fuel, which requires heavy water (D2O) as a more efficient moderator.