User:CBDunkerson/Sandbox

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A nuclear power station at Cattenom in France. France produces 80% of its electricity by nuclear power.
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A nuclear power station at Cattenom in France. France produces 80% of its electricity by nuclear power.[1]

Nuclear power is a method for generating energy by harnessing the radioactivity of atoms. Nuclear fission occurs when any fissile material, such as uranium-235, an isotope of uranium, is concentrated. This causes a nuclear chain reaction, which releases large amounts of heat, boiling water and producing steam, which can drive a steam turbine.

Although nuclear power generates many megawatts of energy, the waste produced and risks often make it a controversial choice. As a result, different nations have very different attitudes towards nuclear power; some, such as France, generate most of their electricity by nuclear power, while others, such as Italy, have decommissioned, or are planning to decommission, all of their nuclear power stations.

In addition to the nations listed below, several other nations, such as Australia, have research reactors, but no plans to diverge into commercial nuclear power; only the commercial reactors registered with the International Atomic Energy Agency are listed below. Nations are listed first by number of reactors, then by peak power output in megawatts. Regions in italics are added for comparison.


The status of nuclear power globally. Nations in dark green have reactors and are constructing new reactors, those in light green are constructing their first reactor, those in dark yellow are considering new reactors, those in light yellow are considering their first reactor, those in blue have reactors but are not constructing or decommissioning, those in light blue are considering decommissioning and those in red have decommissioned all their commercial reactors.
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The status of nuclear power globally. Nations in dark green have reactors and are constructing new reactors, those in light green are constructing their first reactor, those in dark yellow are considering new reactors, those in light yellow are considering their first reactor, those in blue have reactors but are not constructing or decommissioning, those in light blue are considering decommissioning and those in red have decommissioned all their commercial reactors.
Country Number of
reactors [2]		 Power output
MW [1]		 Status of nuclear program [1] Constructing Planned Proposed
World 441 369,122 27 38 115
European Union 147 130,267 1 1 7
United States of America (details) 103 98,145 1 13
France (details) 59 63,363 1 1
Japan (details) 55 47,593 1 1
Russia (details) 31 21,743 4 1 8
United Kingdom (details) 23 11,852 Stable
South Korea 20 16,810 8
Canada (details) 18 12,599 2
Germany 17 20,339 Considering decommissioning
Ukraine 15 13,107 2
India 15 3,040 8 24
Sweden (details) 10 8,910 Considering decommissioning
People's Republic of China 10 7,572 5 5 19
Spain 8 7,446 Stable [3]
Belgium 7 5,824 Considering decommissioning
Taiwan (Republic of China) 6 4,884 2
Czech Republic 6 3,368 2
Slovakia 6 2,442 2
Switzerland 5 3,220 Stable
Bulgaria (details) 4 2,722 2
Finland (details) 4 2,676 1
Hungary 4 1,755 Stable
Brazil 2 1,901 1
South Africa 2 1,842 1 24
Mexico 2 1,310 2
Argentina 2 935 1
Pakistan 2 425 1 2
Lithuania (details) 1 1,185 1 [a]
Slovenia 1 656 Stable
Romania (details) 1 655 1
Netherlands 1 449 Stable
Armenia 1 376 1
Iran 0 0 1 2 3
North Korea 0 0 1 1 [b]
Turkey 0 0 3
Indonesia 0 0 4
Vietnam 0 0 2
Egypt 0 0 1
Israel 0 0 1
Poland 0 0 1[4]

[edit] Notes

  1. a One of the conditions of Lithuania's entry into the European Union was that the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, Lithuania's only nuclear plant, be closed on safety grounds. As a result, Lithuania has proposed a replacement to be built on the same site.[5]
  2. b North Korea has four incomplete reactors, but work on these was suspended under the U.S.-North Korea Agreed Framework. However, work resumed on the Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center on 12 December 2002, despite South Korean, Japanese and American claims that the plant would also be used to build nuclear weapons.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c World Reactors and Uranium Requirements, World Nuclear Association, URL accessed 12 June 2006
  2. ^ Nuclear Power Plant Information, International Atomic Energy Agency, URL accessed 12 June 2006
  3. ^ Nuclear power in Spain, World Nuclear Association, URL accessed 13 June 2006
  4. ^ Energy policy of Poland untill 2025, document adopted by the Polish Council of ministers on 4 January 2005, heading II.1.3
  5. ^ Baltic States Plan Nuclear Expansion, Giedrius Blagnys, Inter Press Service, May 26, 2006
  6. ^ North Korea issues nuclear threat, BBC News, 12 December 2002

Category:Nuclear technology Category:Lists of countries

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