This article is about applications of nuclear reactors as power sources. For the underlying energy itself, see Nuclear energy. For the nuclear power debate, see Nuclear power#Debate on nuclear power. For countries which possess nuclear weapons, see List of states with nuclear weapons.

The Ikata Nuclear Power Plant, a pressurized water reactor that cools by direct exchange with the ocean.

The Susquehanna Steam Electric Station, a boiling water reactor. The nuclear reactors are located inside the rectangular containment buildings towards the front of the cooling towers.

Nuclear aircraft carrier USS Enterprise in 1964 Nuclear power is any nuclear technology designed to extract usable energy from atomic nuclei via controlled nuclear reactions. The most common method today is through nuclear fission, though other methods include nuclear fusion and radioactive decay. All utility-scale reactors [1] heat water to produce steam, which is then converted into mechanical work for the purpose of generating electricity or propulsion. Today, more than 15% of the world's electricity comes from nuclear power, more than 150 nuclear-powered naval vessels have been built, and a few radioisotope rockets have been produced.