World Nuclear Power Reactors & Uranium Requirements

Sources:

Reactor and electricity data: International Atomic Energy Agency Power Reactor Information System (PRIS); US Energy Information Administration; company data; World Nuclear Association estimates
World Nuclear Association, The Nuclear Fuel Report (published September 2023, reference scenario forecast) – for uranium requirements

Notes:

67,517 tU = 79,619 t U₃O₈

Operable = Connected to the grid.
Under Construction = First concrete for reactor poured, keel layed for floating plants.
Planned = Approvals, funding or commitment in place, mostly expected to be in operation within the next 15 years.
Proposed = Specific programme or site proposals; timing very uncertain.

* World figures include Taiwan, which generated a total of 17.2 TWh from nuclear in 2023 (accounting for 6.9% of Taiwan's total electricity generation). As of July 2024 the island has one operable reactor with a net capacity of 938 MWe.

† Under Construction figures include a number of units where construction is currently suspended: Angra 3 (Brazil); Ohma 1 and Shimane 3 (Japan); Khmelnitski 3&4 (Ukraine).

‡ Ukraine 2023 electricity generation estimated.

New plants coming online are largely balanced by old plants being retired. Over the past 20 years (2004-2023), 107 reactors were retired as 100 started operation. However, the reactors grid connected during this period were larger, on average, than those shutdown, so capacity increased by about 19 GW. The Reference Scenario in the 2023 edition of The Nuclear Fuel Report (Table 2.5) has 66 reactors closing by 2040, and 308 new ones coming online (figures include 31 Japanese reactors online by 2040).

TWh = terawatt hour (billion kilowatt hours); kWh = kilowatt hour; MWe = megawatt (electrical as distinct from thermal).