If radioactive waste emits heat, why can’t we use it to produce energy?

Question

If radioactive waste emits heat, why can’t we use it to produce energy?

In: 132

Answer 1

We aren’t very good at converting heat into electrical energy. That’s why we have to make systems that get rid of it. Machinery, electronics, cars, and even buildings all have cooling systems to get rid of heat because we don’t yet have the technology to turn it back into electrical energy. If we could solve that we would be in a much better position.