Nuclear fission is a process where the nucleus of an atom breaks apart into two or more smaller nuclei. This process often creates gamma photons and releases a large amount of energy, even compared to other radioactive processes. Nuclear fission was discovered by chemists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassmann and physicists Lise Meitner and Otto Robert Frisch.
A nuclear power plant, also called a nuclear power station, nuclear generating station, or atomic power station, is a type of power plant that uses heat from a nuclear reactor to create electricity. Like other power plants that use heat, it uses steam to turn a turbine connected to a generator, which makes electricity. As of October 2025, the International Atomic Energy Agency reported that there were 416 nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries worldwide, and 62 reactors were being built.
Hydrogen can be stored using several methods. These include using high pressure and very low temperatures, or using special chemical compounds that release hydrogen gas when needed. Although many industries produce large amounts of hydrogen, most of it is used right where it is made, especially for creating ammonia.
The hydrogen economy refers to using hydrogen as a type of energy to work alongside electricity as a long-term way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This approach is used in places where cheaper and more efficient clean energy solutions are not available. The hydrogen economy includes making hydrogen and using it in ways that help replace fossil fuels and reduce climate change.
A fuel cell is a device that changes the chemical energy from a fuel, such as hydrogen, and an oxidizing agent, like oxygen, into electricity using chemical reactions. Unlike batteries, which use stored chemicals to create energy, fuel cells need a constant supply of fuel and oxygen to keep working. As long as fuel and oxygen are provided, fuel cells can generate electricity continuously.
Hydrogen gas is made using several industrial methods. Most hydrogen produced today comes from fossil fuels. The majority of this hydrogen is called gray hydrogen, which is created through a process called steam methane reforming.
Second-generation biofuels, also called advanced biofuels, are fuels made from non-food biomass. Biomass refers to plant materials and animal waste used mainly for energy. First-generation biofuels are created from sugar and starch sources, such as sugarcane and corn, and from edible oils, like rapeseed and soybean oil.
Biodiesel is a type of renewable fuel made from natural sources such as vegetable oils, animal fats, or used cooking oil. It is made up of long chemical chains called fatty acid esters. Most biodiesel is created from fats.
Ethanol fuel is an alcohol-based fuel made by fermenting simple sugars from plants like corn, sugarcane, and other organic materials. It can also be created from petroleum products. Ethanol is the same type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks, but it is most often used as a fuel for vehicles, either alone or mixed with gasoline.
Renewable natural gas (RNG), also called biomethane, is a type of clean fuel made from biogas. This biogas is cleaned to be like natural gas, with at least 90% methane. By removing carbon dioxide and other unwanted materials from biogas, the methane level becomes high enough to move through existing gas pipelines.