6. Conclusions

This article presented, in very general terms, the major objectives of civil nuclear energy, the constraints that apply to all types, and the way in which the various nuclear technologies, alone or combined in systems, are able to achieve the objectives while respecting the constraints.

In many cases, the paths mapped out here will require new research and technological development in the various fields: reactors themselves, fuels, plutonium reprocessing and management, and waste management.

Many more details can be found in the articles on reactor types, safety, materials and waste.