The top ten nuclear energy-producing countries in 2021

Across the world, 441 nuclear reactors generate approximately 10% of global electricity.
Which countries have the generate the most nuclear energy in 2021?
Nuclear power often gets left behind in the energy transition conversation. Nuclear
fission can act as a reliable source of cheap power, but the high cost of constructing
nuclear plants makes nuclear a difficult market to enter.
While nuclear energy produces no direct greenhouse gases, nuclear waste poses a
unique problem. Although modern practices and international standards keep these
risks to a minimum, public perceptions of nuclear make it a controversial power source.
Following the Fukushima disaster in 2011, Japan has moved to shut down its remaining
nuclear plants. This also caused action in Germany, where a persistent anti-nuclear
movement won its case to close all German nuclear plants by 2022.
Meanwhile, neighbouring France has become the world’s most nuclear-intensive
country by far. Other larger countries generate more nuclear power, but France has
based a much larger share of its generation on nuclear than any other country.
The potential of small modular nuclear reactors has drawn new interest to cheaper
nuclear projects in future. Until then, here are the top ten countries with the most
operational nuclear power capacity in 2021.
United States - 91.5GW
France - 61.3GW
China - 50.8GW
Japan - 31.7GW
Russia - 29.6GW
South Korea - 24.5GW
Canada - 13.6GW
Ukraine - 13.1GW
United Kingdom - 8.9GW
Spain - 7.1GW
1. United States - 91.5GW of nuclear generation
The United States has a total installed nuclear capacity of 91.5GW, generated by 93
reactors across 30 states. In 2019, the country used these to generate 843TWh; more than
30% of global nuclear energy production.
This represents 20% of the country's total electricity consumption, as the US relies more
on natural gas and coal for power generation.
In the state of Georgia, two more reactors are under construction as part of the Vogtle
project. These are expected to come online in 2022, after safety violations in the design
of the first reactor caused delays.
Two old reactors, Indian Point 2 and Duane Arnold with a combined capacity of 1.5GW
were shut down in 2020.
2. France - 61.3GW of nuclear generation
France generates approximately two-thirds of its electricity from nuclear sources, a
larger share than any other country. This centralization of nuclear expertise has helped
lower nuclear costs in the country, and allowed it to generate approximately 17% of its
electricity from recycled nuclear fuel.
France's connections to the European grid allow it to export more nuclear-generated
electricity than any other country.
The country currently has 56 operational reactors that collectively generated 338.7TWh
in 2020. The French Government has vowed to build more reactors to decarbonise its
power generation by 2050. At the same time, it will shrink the share of nuclear energy in
its mix to below 50% by 2035 by increasing its renewable generation.
In 2020, the country's two oldest nuclear units at the Fessenheim Power Station closed
due to environmental concerns. These were originally expected to close with the
opening of the new Flamanville 3 reactor, now due to begin operations in 2023.
3. China - 50.8GW of nuclear generation
A net installed capacity of 50.8GW makes China the third biggest nuclear energy-
producing country in the world. China has 51 nuclear reactors, although nuclear plays a
relatively small role in China's titanic energy system. Nuclear generated only 5% of
Chinese electricity in 2019. In the same year, total nuclear power production reached
330TWh.
China's power system continues to expand rapidly, with 18 reactors currently under
construction. These would add 17.2GW of generation to the country's power systems.
Moreover, the construction of 39 nuclear reactors with a combined gross capacity of
43GW has been planned.
In January 2021, Chinese engineers celebrated the start of operations at the country's
first third-generation pressurized water reactor. The Hualong One is China's first
domestically-developed reactor, designed to be significantly more efficient than existing
reactors. Authorities plan to build more of these in coming years.
4. Japan - 31.7GW of nuclear generation
Japan has 33 nuclear reactors in operation with a net installed capacity of 31.7 GW.
while two reactors (Ohma 1 and Shimane 3) with a net capacity of 2.6GW are under
construction.
Before the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi plant in March
The United States has a total installed nuclear capacity of 91.5GW, generated by 93
reactors across 30 states. In 2019, the country used these to generate 843TWh; more than
30% of global nuclear energy production.
This represents 20% of the country's total electricity consumption, as the US relies more
on natural gas and coal for power generation.
In the state of Georgia, two more reactors are under construction as part of the Vogtle
project. These are expected to come online in 2022, after safety violations in the design
of the first reactor caused delays.
Two old reactors, Indian Point 2 and Duane Arnold with a combined capacity of 1.5GW
were shut down in 2020.
5. Russia - 29.6GW of nuclear generation
Russia has 38 operating reactors with a combined net capacity of 29.6GW. At the same
time, two more reactors with a combined net capacity of 2.3GW are under construction
as part of the Kursk II project.
In 2019, Russia produced 195.5TWh of nuclear energy, which accounted for
approximately 19.7% of its total electricity generated.
Before the establishment of modern Russia, the USSR was one of the original
frontrunners of nuclear technology. Engineers constructed Soviet-designed reactors
throughout much of Eastern Europe, and today Russia remains a world leader in fast
neutron reactor technology
The state-owned nuclear power company, Rosatom, has hopes its Proryv Project will
develop a closed nuclear fuel cycle, based on fast reactors, for industrial
implementation on large scale.
6. South Korea - 24.5GW of nuclear generation
South Korea has 24 nuclear reactors in operation, with a combined 24.5GW capacity.
Three of the country's four operational reactors lie in along the country's south-eastern
coast, near the cities of Gyeongju, Ulsan, and Busan. The densely-populated region
hosts several heavy manufacturing plants, causing relatively high electricity demand.
South Korea generated 146TWh of nuclear energy in 2019, while natural gas generated a
similar amount. Each of these fuels generate approximately 25% of the country's total
electricity, trailing behind coal's 42% dominance of the Korean energy market.
The nation has four nuclear reactors (Shin Hanul 1 and 2 and Shin Kori 5 and 6) under
construction, with all four lying along the south-eastern coast. These will add 5.3GW of
net capacity to the Korean grid when finished. Nuclear remains significantly popular in
the country, with an opinion poll in September 2021 showing 72% of the population as
supporting nuclear power generation.
7. Canada - 13.6GW of nuclear generation
Canada has a total of 19 operational nuclear reactors spread across four power plants,
most of them located in the state of Ontario. Collectively, these give the country a net
installed capacity of 13.6GW.
In 2019, Canada generated 94.9TWh of nuclear energy, which accounted for 14.9% of
the country’s total power generation.
All the nuclear power plants in Canada feature Canadian Deuterium-Uranium
(CANDU) reactors, which use pressurized heavy water as a coolant and moderator
while using uranium as fuel.
8. Ukraine - 13.1GW of nuclear generation
Ukraine has 15 operable nuclear reactors with a combined net installed capacity of
13.1GW, while two reactors (Khmelnitski 3 and 4) are under construction. These
pressurized heavy water reactors will provide a 2GW net capacity when completed.
Ukraine produced 78.1TWh of nuclear energy in 2019, which accounted for 53.9% of the
total electricity produced in the country.
The country is highly dependent on nuclear energy and receives most of its nuclear fuel
and services from Russia. Due to geopolitical disputes, the country proactively
purchases fuel from US company Westinghouse to lessen its dependence on Russia.
9. United Kingdom - 8.9GW of nuclear generation
The UK has a combined net nuclear energy capacity of 8.9GW with 13 operational
nuclear reactors. The country generated 51TWh of nuclear energy in 2019, which
represented approximately 16% of the country’s total electricity output.
Construction has started on two new reactors at the operational Hinkley Point plant,
with a planned combined capacity of 3.3GW. These would generate 7% of the country's
current electricity requirements.
Approximately half of the country’s existing nuclear power reactors will be retired by
2035. The UK Government intends to support development of at least one new nuclear
reactor. The legislation and funding surrounding this has caused a mixed reaction from
nuclear developers, with several projects proposed and cancelled over the past few
years.
10. Spain - 7.1GW of nuclear generation
Until recently, Sweden held the number 10 spot. Following the shutdown of
its Ringhals 1 and 2 reactors, the country's installed nuclear capacity fell below that of
Spain.
Nuclear currently generates approximately 22% of Spain's electricity. The country has
an installed capacity of 7.1GW, generated by seven reactors. All of these first connected
to the grid between 1983 and 1988, with little consideration to nuclear since.
However, government ministers have called nuclear plants "essential" to the country's
energy grid and lifted limits to their operational lifespans. In 2020 and 2021, six of the
country's seven reactors renewed their licenses for coming years. All of these would
expire before 2035, the deadline for the Spanish Government's planned phaseout of
nuclear power.
Announced in 2018, Spain's government said the plan to eliminate nuclear power was a
"social decision", and that it would take decades to complete. Spain currently has three
decommissioned reactors, and the wave of decommissioning’s would require
significant nuclear decommissioning infrastructure in the country.

Source:
By Hemanth Kumar
https://www.power-technology.com/analysis/top-ten-nuclear-energy-producing-
countries/