http://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/current-and-future-generation/plans-for-new-reactors-worldwide.aspxPlans For New Reactors Worldwide
(Updated January 2018)
Nuclear power capacity worldwide is increasing steadily, with about 50 reactors under construction. Most reactors on order or planned are in the Asian region, though there are major plans for new units in Russia.
Significant further capacity is being created by plant upgrading.
Plant lifetime extension programs are maintaining capacity, particularly in the USA.Today there are some 440 nuclear power reactors operating in 30 countries plus Taiwan, with a combined capacity of over 390 GWe. In 2015 these provided 2571 billion kWh, about 11% of the world's electricity.
About 50 power reactors are currently being constructed in 13 countries (see Table below), notably China, India, UAE and Russia.
Each year, the OECD's International Energy Agency (IEA) sets out the present situation as well as reference and other – particularly carbon reduction – scenarios. In the 2017 edition of its World Energy Outlook report, the IEA's 'New Policies Scenario' sees installed nuclear capacity growth of over 25% from 2015 (about 404 GWe) to 2040 (about 516 GWe). The scenario envisages a total generating capacity of 11,960 GWe by 2040, with the increase concentrated heavily in Asia, and in particular China (33% of the total). In this scenario nuclear's contribution to global power generation increases to about 14% of the total.
The New Policies Scenario is based on a review of policy announcements and plans, reflecting the way governments see their energy sectors evolving over the coming decades. The IEA estimates that the cumulative impact of the new policies would result in steady growth in global CO2 emissions from the power sector through to 2040. The IEA has produced a low-carbon ‘Sustainable Development Scenario’ that is consistent with limiting the average global temperature increase in 2100 to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In the Sustainable Development Scenario, nuclear capacity increases to 720 GWe by 2040, providing about 15% of electricity generation.
The report states: "In the Sustainable Development Scenario, low-carbon sources double their share in the energy mix to 40% in 2040, all avenues to improve efficiency are pursued, coal demand goes into an immediate decline and oil consumption peaks soon thereafter. Power generation is all but decarbonised, relying by 2040 on generation from renewables (over 60%), nuclear power (15%) as well as a contribution from carbon capture and storage (6%) – a technology that plays an equally significant role in cutting emissions from the industry sector."
It is noteworthy that in the 1980s, 218 power reactors started up, an average of one every 17 days. These included 47 in the USA, 42 in France and 18 in Japan. These were fairly large – the average rated power was 923.5 MWe. With China and India's nuclear sectors growing, it is not hard to imagine a similar rate of reactor construction in the years ahead.
Nuclear plant construction
Most reactors currently planned are in the Asian region, with fast-growing economies and rapidly-rising electricity demand.
In all, about 160 power reactors with a total gross capacity of some 160,000 MWe are on order or planned, and over 300 more are proposed.
Energy security concerns and greenhouse constraints on fossil fuel burning have combined with basic economics to put nuclear power back on the agenda for projected new capacity in many countries. At the end of 2017, 57 power reactors were under construction around the world.
Many countries with existing nuclear power programs either have plans to, or are building, new power reactors.
In the UK, 11 units are planned, including four 1670 MWe EPR units, four 1380 MWe ABWR units and three 1135 MWe AP1000 units.