World Nuclear Power Reactors & Uranium Requirements

31 July 2015

This table includes only those future reactors envisaged in specific plans and proposals and expected to be operating by 2030.

The WNA country profiles linked to this table cover both areas: near-term developments and the prospective long-term role for nuclear power in national energy policies. They also provide more detail of what is tabulated here.

Sources:
Reactor data: WNA to 1/8/15 (excluding eight shut-down German units) 
IAEA for nuclear electricity production & percentage of electricity (% e) April 2015.
WNA: Global Nuclear Fuel Market report Sept 2013 (reference scenario 2015) – for U.  66,883 tU = 78,875 t U₃O₈

Operable = Connected to the grid;
Under Construction = first concrete for reactor poured, or major refurbishment under way;
Planned = Approvals, funding or major commitment in place, mostly expected in operation within 8-10 years;
Proposed = Specific program or site proposals, expected operation mostly within 15 years.

New plants coming on line are largely balanced by old plants being retired. Over 1996-2013, 66 reactors were retired as 71 started operation. There are no firm projections for retirements over the period covered by this Table, but WNA estimates that at least 60 of those now operating will close by 2030, most being small plants. The 2013 WNA Market Report reference scenario (Table 2.5) has 74 reactors closing by 2030, and 272 new ones coming on line (figures exclude closed Japanese reactors).

TWh = Terawatt-hours (billion kilowatt-hours), MWe = Megawatt (electrical as distinct from thermal), kWh = kilowatt-hour.

** The world total includes six reactors operating on Taiwan with a combined capacity of 4927 MWe, which generated a total of 40.8 billion kWh in 2014 (accounting for 18.9% of Taiwan's total electricity generation). Taiwan has two reactors under construction with a combined capacity of 2700 MWe. It was expected to require 972 tU in 2015.

Note: This table is routinely updated approximately every two months, and more frequently as required.
Earlier tables: June 2015 April 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 October 2014 August 2014 June 2014 April 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 October 2013 September 2013 July 2013  June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 September 2011 August 2011;July 2011 June 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009;July 2009 May 2009 April 2009 February 2009 December 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008;July 2008 March 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 September 2007 August 2007;July 2007 May 2007 March 2007