Nuclear power

This article is about power derived from nuclear reactions. For countries that possess nuclear weapons see: Nuclear powers .

Current and planned use

In 2005, there were 441 commercial nuclear generating units throughout the world, with a total capacity of about 368 gigawatts.http://www.iaea.org/cgi-bin/db.page.pl/pris.reaopag.htm 111 reactors (36GW) have been shut down.http://www.iaea.org/cgi-bin/db.page.pl/pris.reasdct.htm 80% of reactors (and of generating capacity) are more than 15 years old.http://www.iaea.org/cgi-bin/db.page.pl/pris.reaopag.htm

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In 2004 in the United States, there were 104 (69 pressurized water reactors and 35 boiling water reactors) commercial nuclear generating units licensed to operate, producing a total of 97,400 megawatts (electric), which is approximately 20 percent of the nation's total electric energy consumption. The United States is the world's largest supplier of commercial nuclear power. Future development of nuclear power in the U.S. (see the Nuclear Power 2010 Program) was enabled by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 http://www.nei.org/documents/Energy_Bill_2005.pdf. As of 2005, no nuclear plant had been ordered without subsequent cancellation for over twenty years, thus the need for programs to promote new construction. However, on September 22, 2005 it was announced that two sites in the U.S. had been selected to receive new power reactors (exclusive of the new power reactor scheduled for INL) - see Nuclear Power 2010 Program.

Related Topics:
2004 - Nuclear Power 2010 Program - Energy Policy Act of 2005 - September 22 - 2005 - INL

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In France, as of 2002, 78% of all electric power was generated by nuclear reactors, the highest share in the world.

Related Topics:
France - As of 2002 - Electric power

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Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, India, Iran, North Korea, Russia, Pakistan, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the U.S. are currently planning or building new nuclear reactors or reopening old ones. Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Indonesia, Israel, Romania, Slovakia, South Africa, Turkey, and Vietnam are considering doing this. Armenia, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Mexico, Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom have nuclear reactors but currently no advanced proposals for expansion. http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf17.htm http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/reactors.htmhttp://www.wired.com/wired/archive/12.09/china.html. Sweden and Germany have decided on a nuclear power phase-out, but depending on the September 2005 elections Germany may reverse its decision.

Related Topics:
Argentina - Brazil - Canada - China - Finland - India - Iran - North Korea - Russia - Pakistan - Japan - South Korea - Taiwan - Ukraine - Bulgaria - Czech Republic - Egypt - France - Indonesia - Israel - Romania - Slovakia - South Africa - Turkey - Vietnam - Armenia - Belgium - Germany - Hungary - Lithuania - Mexico - Netherlands - Slovenia - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - United Kingdom - Nuclear power phase-out - September - 2005

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According to the EIA and the IEA, nuclear power is projected to have a slightly declining 5-10% share of world energy production until 2025, assuming that fossil fuel production can continue to expand rapidly (which is controversial). See Future energy development.

Related Topics:
EIA - IEA - Future energy development

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