This article is published in collaboration with Statista
by Niall McCarthy
The 2019 World Nuclear Industry Status Report provides an overview of the age, operation, production and construction of nuclear power plants in different countries. The report found that global nuclear power generation grew 2.4 percent in 2018 due to a 19 percent climb in China where 7 new reactors became operational. Despite that modest increase, nuclear power is experiencing a slow decline from a 17.5% peak share of global electicity generation in 1996 to 10.15 percent in 2018. Renewables are now thriving with 165 GW added to the global power grid in 2018 compare to nuclear's 9 GW increase. In addition, the number of new nuclear reactors under construction around the world has now declined for the sixth successive year, falling from 68 in late 2013 to 46 in mid-2019.
In 2019, 417 reactors were operational around the world with another 28 in long-term storage. The United States had the highest total at 97 with another two being built. U.S. reactors account for 19.3 percent of the country's electricity generation and they have a mean age of 38.9 years. France comes second with 58 reactors and their share of French electricity generation is 71.7 percent. Even though China has been focusing heavily on renewables, it has the third-highest total with 47 reactors. Despite being the only countries that experienced serious nuclear accidents, Ukraine and Japan are still on the list with 15 and nine reactors respectively.
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