Why do nuclear power plants expel such a massive amount of waste heat? Is there no way to make use of all that heat? /u/UnrulyOblivion No such thing as stupid questions

Could you use that excess heat to help alleviate the heating demands of nearby industries or homes? Could you capture the water from the steam to create some rudimentary kind of hydropower or is the cost of the infrastructure simply not worth the benefice? Couldn’t coastal power plants be used as desalination plants?

Could you use that excess heat to help alleviate the heating demands of nearby industries or homes? Could you capture the water from the steam to create some rudimentary kind of hydropower or is the cost of the infrastructure simply not worth the benefice? Couldn’t coastal power plants be used as desalination plants?