Interesting facts about the nuclear power industry

As we enter a new year, it’s a good idea to survey the nuclear power landscape. Here are some interesting facts. . . .

At the beginning of 2016, there are 99 nuclear plants operating in the US. Thirty-four are BWRs, and 65 are PWRs. They supplied 19.5% of the country’s total power.

In the rest of the world, there are 438 reactors supplying 10.9% of their total power.

In the US, Palo Verde has the three largest reactors at 1,311 MW; 1,314 MW; and 1,312 MW, for a total of 3,937 MW. The smallest is Fort Calhoun, at 478 MW.

The first plant to come online since 1996 is Watts Bar Unit 2, scheduled to do so this year; the last plant to come online in 1996 was Watts Bar Unit 1.

There are four plants currently under construction in the US: Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in Waynesboro, Georgia; and VC Summer 2 and 3 in Jenkinsville, SC. All are Westinghouse AP 1000s.

There are many more statistics like these compiled by the NEI. That’s where these came from. To find them, click the following link:

http://www.nei.org/Knowledge-Center/Nuclear-Statistics

 

What do you think?