The world’s nuclear reactors performed excellently in 2017. Global nuclear electricity output was 2,506 terawatt hours, an increase of 29 TWh compared with 2016. This marked the fifth successive year nuclear output has increased, with generation 160 TWh higher than in 2012.

At the end of 2017, 448 reactors were operable, with a combined capacity of 392 gigawatt electric, up two GWe from the end of 2016. Four new reactors were connected to the grid, with a combined capacity of 3,373 megawatts electric. Five reactors were shut down, with a combined capacity of 3,025 MWe.

The number of reactors under construction at the end of 2017 was 59. The median average construction time for the four reactors grid connected during 2017 was 58 months. In addition to the four grid connections, there were four construction starts and two construction projects halted. Both 2015 and 2016 had more grid connections, with 10 each, and we have already had more grid connections in 2018 than in the whole of 2017.

The capacity factor for the global fleet stood at 81 percent, continuing the high availability of about 80 percent that has been maintained since 2000, and up from the 60 percent average capacity factor at the start of the 1980s.

In Asia, construction started on the first nuclear power reactor to be built in Bangladesh. Nuclear generation was boosted by the return to service of the fifth Japanese reactor, with further restarts taking place in 2018. In South Korea, a public vote led to the resumption of construction of Shin Kori. Construction was completed on the first unit at Barakah in the United Arab Emirates.

In Canada, plans are progressing to support the development of small modular reactor technology, as well as to ensure the continued operation of its existing Candu reactors.

In the United States, construction was halted on the two V.C. Summer reactors. Agreement was reached on the completion of the two sister reactors at Vogtle, and construction since this agreement is progressing well. However, market conditions are proving challenging, resulting in announcements of planned closures of some reactors. In some states, measures have been introduced to correct those market distortions to support the continued operation of nuclear plants as they are providing reliable and clean electricity.

Turkey has become the latest country to start a new build program. Construction on-site at Akkuyu formally started in December 2017, with construction of the first reactor starting in April 2018.

With construction on more than 25 reactors scheduled for completion in 2018 and 2019, strong progress is being made. New reactor projects are needed to maintain and accelerate global nuclear build so that nuclear generation can meet the Harmony program goal of nuclear power supplying 25 percent of the world’s global electricity by 2050.

Agneta Rising is director general of the World Nuclear Association. The organization’s 2018 report on the topic can be downloaded at this link: https://bit.ly/2PNE90C.